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

HB 587 prohibits Missouri employers from paying employees differently based on gender for work requiring equal skill, effort, and responsibility under similar working conditions. It specifically bans wage discrimination for "equal work" while allowing pay differences based on seniority, productivity, bona fide factors (like regional costs), or merit systems. The bill also protects employees from retaliation for discussing wages, opposing discrimination, or participating in related investigations. This directly affects all Missouri employers and employees covered by state labor laws.