Articles About Rhode Island Labor And Employment Law

On June 25, 2024, Rhode Island became the 20th state to enact a comprehensive consumer data protection law, the Rhode Island Data Transparency and Privacy Protection Act (“RIDTPPA”). The state joins Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and New Jersey in passing consumer data privacy laws this year.

The RIDTPPA

The governor of Rhode Island has signed into law amendments to the Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) law that will increase the amount of leave benefits available to employees beginning Jan. 1, 2025.  

Currently, eligible employees in Rhode Island can take six weeks of leave under TCI to care for

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed a new law (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-34-50) that prohibits the enforcement of non-competition agreements with advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in the state on June 17, 2024. Surprisingly, only three days after the APRN prohibition was enacted, the Rhode Island legislature sent a

The Rhode Island General Assembly was active during the 2024 legislative session, passing several bills that impact employers and their business practices. Here is a summary of the new laws Rhode Island employers may need to know about.

Rhode Island law taking effect January 1, 2024 will impose criminal penalties on employers for knowing and willful wage and hour violations. The law also includes harsher penalties for employers generally, and those in the construction industry specifically, that misclassify workers as independent contractors.

Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee has signed a bill that prohibits the use of nondisclosure or non-disparagement agreements regarding civil rights abuses “as a condition of employment.” According to a recent update to the legislature’s website, the bill was signed on June 22, 2023. Quick Hits The Rhode Island governor

The Rhode Island legislature recently moved two bills forward that would limit employers’ use of restrictive covenants with employees. On June 19, 2023, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a bill, Senate Bill (S) 0342, that would prohibit the use of nondisclosure or non-disparagement agreements regarding civil rights abuses,

On June 28, 2022, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed new “tip protection” legislation. The statute prohibits employers of tipped employees from retaining employee tips, creates new requirements for tip pools, and sets requirements for deductions from tips for credit card processing.

Existing Law Regarding Tipped Employees

Rhode Island has joined the list of states adopting laws governing the payment of tips. House Bill (HB) 7510, which is codified as Public Law 2022-245, mirrors nearly all tip-related aspects of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its regulations. The law became effective on June 28, 2022.

On May 25, 2022, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed into the law the Rhode Island Cannabis Act, which legalized recreational cannabis.  As a result, Rhode Island has joined a small but growing minority of states that extend employment protections to employees who use marijuana during non-working hours.  With

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana in the state on May 25, 2022.  The new law took effect immediately.  Adults age 21 and older now can possess up to an ounce of cannabis, may grow cannabis within their primary residence (up to certain limits) and

Healthcare and healthcare-related employers have not just been at the heart of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, they have also recently been on the battleground in the fight over mandatory vaccination. Multiple states and locales have enacted some form of a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Many of these vaccination

Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed pay equity legislation (H 5261A, S 0270A) that will go into effect on January 1, 2023. The new legislation amends Rhode Island’s existing pay equity law and contains the following key provisions.

Rhode Island has joined the growing ranks of states that have enacted a sweeping pay equity statute. The Rhode Island law, which takes effect on January 1, 2023, amends the Rhode Island Equal Pay Law and places significant new burdens on both large and small businesses. The law seeks

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee has signed into law new protections against pay discrimination. The new law, which goes into effect January 1, 2023, makes it unlawful to pay any employee less than the employees of another race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, or