Effective January 1, 2024, the Rhode Island Payment of Wages Act, R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1, et seq. (“Wage Act”) will make a “knowing[] and willful[]” wage and hour violation punishable as a criminal felony. Should an...more
9/25/2023
/ Amended Regulation ,
Criminal Liability ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Independent Contractors ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Labor Reform ,
Misclassification ,
Rhode Island ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unpaid Wages ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wage Theft
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...more
With Phase 1 of the “Reopening RI” framework set to commence on May 9, 2020, certain non-critical businesses will be able to resume operations. A list of businesses eligible to reopen in Phase 1 is available here. On May 6,...more
The recent outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has implications specific to Rhode Island employers. On March 9, 2020, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo declared a state of emergency. Four days later, on March 13, 2020,...more
3/20/2020
/ Business Disruption ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Furloughs ,
Health and Safety ,
Layoffs ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
School Closures ,
State and Local Government ,
Unemployment Benefits ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Rhode Island has followed the recent trend of its neighboring states—including Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire—by enacting a law that largely prohibits employers from entering into noncompete agreements with their...more
8/12/2019
/ Confidential Information ,
Contract Terms ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Contract ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Low-Wage Workers ,
New Legislation ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws
On May 28, 2019, Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) signed into law a groundbreaking new statute requiring Maine employers (even small businesses) to provide paid time off beginning January 1, 2021. The law is the first of its...more
For employers with Washington State operations, what happened in 2018 does not necessarily stay in 2018. Those bidding 2018 farewell cannot say goodbye to various paid sick and safe time (PSST) policy, notice, and leave...more
12/21/2018
/ Earned Sick Time ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Local Ordinance ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Safe Leave ,
Sick Leave ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour
On May 11, 2018, the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training finalized regulations concerning the state’s mandatory paid sick and safe time law, the Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act (HSFWA). The regulations...more
After a nine-month drought in 2017, a new paid sick and safe leave law has been enacted in Rhode Island. Upon coming back into session in September, state legislators swiftly returned to advancing their identical paid leave...more
On June 25, 2015, Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo signed legislation requiring Rhode Island employers to provide workplace accommodations for pregnant workers. The new law, which went into effect immediately,...more