Employment Law in Providence, RI

If you have suffered treatment from an employer in Providence, Rhode Island that violates employment laws, learning more about the law can help. Hiring an employment law attorney can best help you navigate the process, and increase the chances of winning your case.

What Is Employment Law?

Employment law covers the rights, responsibilities, and obligations within the employer-employee relationship. Employment lawyers serve both employees and employers, though they generally focus their practice on serving one or the other. Regardless of who their clients are, their goal is to present a solid case and defend them.

Understanding Employment Law Labor Rights in Providence, Rhode Island

Employees have a wide range of rights that employers cannot violate. If employers violate these rights, workers can file a complaint against them. Each state has unique labor laws and some also make provisions for qualifying independent contractors. Below are the most common topics covered in employment law across the country.

Wage and Hour Laws

Laws protect non-exempt employees from being forced to work for low wages and a certain amount of hours without increased pay. These are the wage and hour laws. They outline the minimum wages an employee can earn as well as the maximum amount of hours worked before qualifying employees should get paid overtime.

Rhode Island, like every other state, has unique wage and hour laws. However, there are federal laws in place that are minimum requirements for all states. For example, the federal minimum wage is $7.25, but most states exceed that amount.

The Fair Labor Standards Act states that non-exempt employees can only work 40 hours per week at their regular wage rates. If they exceed that number, the employer must pay them overtime rates at a minimum of time and a half. Some states also require weekend overtime pay, holiday pay, and overtime for working more than a certain number of hours each day.

Under Rhode Island law, the minimum wage in Providence is currently $11.50 per hour. In addition, overtime pay is required for any work over 40 hours per week. According to the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, hourly employees must be paid weekly. However, Providence employers may petition the Department for permission to pay biweekly.

Workers’ Compensation

If you’ve been injured on the job in Providence, RI you might be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This includes payments for lost wages and past or future medical bills that resulted from your workplace injury.

In order to be eligible for workers’ compensation, you must meet these requirements:

• You must be an employee.
• You must have a work-related illness or injury.
• Your employer must carry workers’ comp insurance.
• You must meet the deadline for filing workers’ comp claims.

There are, however, exceptions to these requirements that may still make you eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, if your employer is denying you benefits, you should contact a qualified Providence attorney for assistance with your case.

Termination Rights under Providence, Rhode Island Employment Law

If you live in an at-will state, or your employment is “at-will,” meaning you can be terminated from your job without notice and without cause. However, even at-will employees have rights when it comes to termination. A violation of those rights can be wrongful termination.

Here are some reasons your termination might be wrongful even if you are an at-will employee:

• Written promises or contracts
• Implied promises
• Violations of public policy
• Breaches of good faith and fair dealing
• Workplace retaliation
• Discrimination
• Defamation
• Fraud
• Whistleblowing violations

Providence employees are hired on an at-will basis. Legislation was introduced in 2017 that would have required just cause to terminate an employee. However, the bill was not enacted into law. In addition, Rhode Island is not a Right to Work state. Therefore, Providence employers can require payment of union fees, but not union membership, as a condition of employment.

If you believe your termination was wrongful due to the above circumstances, then contact an experienced Providence, RI employment law attorney right away. This is because there are time constraints on how long you can wait to file a claim.

Unemployment Benefits

If you’ve lost your job, you can file for unemployment benefits with the state unemployment agency. The agency will either approve or deny your claim. Then, after approval, you’ll receive monthly unemployment checks and benefits in the mail after filing weekly unemployment claims. Still, unemployment claims can be denied for a number of reasons, including:

• If you were fired for misconduct.
• You voluntarily quit your job.
• You do not have enough earnings during the work period.

If your claim is denied, you can appeal the decision if you think it’s the wrong choice. Work with a qualified Providence attorney during the appeal process to improve your chances of winning the case.

Paid and Unpaid Time Off

Some states require paid time off as well as medical and family leave for employees. Oftentimes, this is combined into one singular paid time off, (PTO), amount. Laws can vary state-to-state, but typically PTO is accrued over time and you’ll get a set amount of PTO days per year.

Additionally, some states have laws that force the employer to pay for unused PTO. If you are not given proper PTO or your employer doesn’t follow your state’s medical or family leave laws, you can file a complaint.

Rhode Island’s Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act requires all Providence employers to provide sick leave. Providence employees can also use this leave to recover from domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. If your Providence employer has at least 18 employees, the sick leave must be paid. However, smaller employers only have to offer unpaid leave.

Child Labor Laws

Child labor laws are a lot more strict than regular labor laws and require employers to be extra careful when scheduling minors. Each state has its own child labor laws that outline the number of hours a minor can work per week. These include how often they should have breaks, how many days in a row they can work, and how late they can work each night.

Rhode Island’s child labor laws protect children from unfair or dangerous employment. The minimum age for most employment in Providence is 14. In addition, Providence employees under 16 have to have a work permit. The law also places restrictions on the hours that minors can work, especially during the school year. Furthermore, certain hazardous occupations, minors cannot work in. These can include coal mining, sawmilling, and meat packing.

Providence, Rhode Island Employment Anti Discrimination Laws

A collection of federal anti-discrimination laws protect workers from employment discrimination. Following are brief descriptions of some of these anti-discrimination acts:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act: Prohibits employers from selecting job applicants and employees based on race, religion, color, sex, and national origin.
• Age Discrimination Act: Prohibits discrimination based on age for employees over the age of 40 years old.
• Pregnancy Discrimination Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating based on pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition.
• Americans with Disabilities Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating against people with disabilities at any time during the application or hiring process or once the person holds the job.
• Equal Pay Act: Requires employers to give men and women equal pay for equal work.

Sexual Harassment

If a coworker, employer, or client sexually harasses someone in the workplace; the employee has a set of rights to protect them from further harassment. Laws also offer protection from retaliation, such as getting fired for reporting a manager. If you or someone you know is facing sexual harassment in the workplace, report it to your HR department.

The Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights reports that sexual harassment is a violation of both federal and state laws. Sexual harassment can include making employment actions conditional on sexual favors. However, it can also encompass behaviors that create a hostile work environment. Under Rhode Island statute, Providence employers with at least 50 employees must have a written sexual harassment policy. In addition, all Providence employers should conduct annual sexual harassment education and training programs.

Work With an Experienced Employment Lawyer in Providence,  Rhode Island

If you have employment law concerns, or you’re currently preparing for a case in Providence, RI then working with an experienced attorney can help. The hard part is finding the right one. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Rhode Island state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!