What are your plans for a typical Friday after the last class of the week? Would it be hanging out with your friends through the night? tending to your stacks of homework from half a dozen of your classes? Or just sleeping in until Saturday afternoon? But for many KHS students, their plans are commandeering the cash register, consolidating trash and carrying heavy boxes of merchandise. According to Statisa, 20% of American high school students in 2022 have a part-time job.

Those students who work part-time can usually see a quick transition from the end of the school day to a work shift. Skye Carl, sophomore, works at Daily Bread in downtown Kirkwood for minimum wage on Friday nights and all day Saturday working as a cashier, baker, sandwich maker and everything in between.

“It’s a little stressful,” Carl said. “But the job atmosphere is great. Both the customers and employees are great people and it’s a very calm environment.”

Henry Brust, sophomore, works at the Kirkwood Farmers Market just above minimum wage on Wednesday, Sundays and every other Friday after school. He said the transition between school and work on weekdays is challenging for him.

“It’s a little annoying,” Brust said  “because I have to ride my bike [to work.]”

For many part time workers like Carl and Brust, their pay is expected to be increased. Last November, Missouri voters approved a ballot resolution called Proposition A that raises the state minimum wage from $12.30 an hour to $13.75 starting New Year’s Day of 2025. Lexie Eskelsen, personal finance teacher said this $1.45 raise will be significant to students.

“The increase will be very impactful [for students,]” Eskelsen said. “It is easy to say that it’s not even a full dollar increase [for 2024] but that adds up.”

The increase to $13.75 is part of a wider plan to achieve a $15 minimum wage for Missouri by 2026, a benchmark many progressive lawmakers and activists such as “The Fight for 15” movement and the Democratic Party have been clamoring for roughly a decade now. On top of this wage increase, there are now employer requirements stating workers who work 30 hours a week get 1 hour of paid sick leave according to the Missouri Independent. Eskelsen said she believes this is monumental to KHS part-time workers and the general population alike.

“Whether it’s high school students or families working multiple minimum wage jobs trying to make ends meet,” Eskelsen said. “Missing a day for you to be sick can be hugely impactful in a negative way on your finances.”

While this increase may bring celebrations in the labor world, businesses throughout Missouri have rallied together to shoot down this proposition. Just a month after the resolution passed last November, the Missouri Restaurant Association, Missouri Grocers Association and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce challenged the resolution, saying this proposition does not adhere to the single subject rule in the Missouri Constitution, requiring only one subject be on any ballot resolution to be based on one singular topic, stating that 2 different subjects (in this case, minimum wage and paid sick leave,) do not belong on the  same resolution.

The lawsuit petition states that Proposition A is not being challenged because of the impact on businesses, but rather the unconstitutionality of the resolution that would set a precedent for later initiatives to stand out of line from Missouri constitutional law. Brust finds this lawsuit to be irritating but also feels if it was overturned it would not be detrimental to him.

“I would be slightly annoyed,” Brust said. “but since I am not working too much right now, it’s not going to affect me compared to other people.”

Potentially the most negative effect this proposition had that caused the business to band together was guaranteed 1 hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked by every employee. Eskelsen said she envisioned business opposition to this proposition because of a significant financial strain put on employers.

“That is going to be one that businesses will most likely push back on.” Eskelsen said. “Because that is expensive to provide. I know the argument made by some businesses and some lawmakers is that if you push [the costs] too high, that some businesses will go out of business or hire as many workers.”

Paid sick leave is a catastrophic bank breaker for businesses. According to a 2022 study by the Integrated Benefits Institute, business losses from illness-related aspects cost roughly half a billion dollars annually. With more expenses companies would have to put up with, it might cause them to hire less workers, as more capital is diverted to fewer employees. Brust is speculating his employer will have to restrain the hiring of high school students in favor of full-time adults that are more reliable.

“My employer hires a lot of freshmen and sophomores,” Brust said.  “I think he would be more hesitant to hire high schoolers, he’s probably going to focus more on hiring adults. All year round he is going to give more hours to adults and less to the younger workers.”

While the lawsuit has yet to schedule hearings on the case, they might find some support from the governor’s mansion. Recently sworn-in Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, had debated with Democratic governor candidate, Crystal Quade, over the proposition on the ballot.  Kehoe made clear he is not supportive of the proposition at the gubernatorial debate last fall .

“As a businessman for 35+ years, I would not be able to support this.” Kehoe said, “I believe the government should not be setting wages, but the economy should [set them itself.]”

Despite the unity of business opposition, an anti-minimum wage governor and being under fire for its legality, KHS students can go to work, whether it be by car or riding a bike. An eventual 15$ minimum wage for all jobs would give students far more breathing room to take steps to buying a car and even to save for college. As CEO of Appfire Chris Brogan remarked, “The goal isn’t more money. The goal is living life on your terms.”

This story was originally published on The Kirkwood Call on February 26, 2025.