Prohibits employers from engaging in certain forms of discrimination based on gender

HB 2037 updates Missouri's existing laws to prohibit employers from discriminating against employees based on gender, specifically by ensuring equal pay for work requiring equal skill, effort, and responsibility. The bill expands the definition of wages to include various forms of compensation such as bonuses, stock options, and tips, while allowing pay differences only for legitimate reasons like seniority, merit, or production quantity. It also strengthens protections against retaliation by making it illegal for employers to punish workers who discuss their own or others' wages or who file complaints about pay discrimination. Employees who believe they have been subjected to gender-based pay discrimination or retaliation can file claims with the state labor commission or pursue civil action to recover unpaid wages, lost benefits, and potential damages.