MO HB349

Repeals gendered language in equal pay laws and expands protections to all employees regardless of gender, changing requirements from "female employees" to apply to any employee paid less than employees of the opposite gender for equal work.

Requires employers to provide written statements to each employee upon hire and annually thereafter detailing job title, wage rate, and wage calculation method, with supplemental notices for promotions or reassignments lasting longer than three months.

Requires employers to maintain records documenting wages paid and the methods, systems, and calculations used to establish wage rates, with reports submitted to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations in a manner protecting employee confidentiality.

Establishes a nine-member Equal Pay Commission to study wage disparities between men and women and between minorities and nonminorities, with members representing businesses, labor organizations, civil rights groups, and academia, requiring a report within 12 months.

Expands remedies for equal pay violations to include compensatory damages up to twice the unpaid wages, protects employees from retaliation for discussing wages or participating in investigations, and allows prevailing employees to recover attorney's fees and court costs with a two-year statute of limitations.