Rhode Island Whistleblower Protections

R.I Gen. Laws Ann. § 28-50-2:

1. “Employee” means a person employed by any employer, and shall include, but not be limited to, at-will employees, contract employees and independent contractors.
2. “Employer” means any person, partnership, association, sole proprietorship, corporation or other business entity, including any department, agency, commission, committee, board, council, bureau, or authority or any subdivision thereof in state or municipal government. One shall employ another if services are performed for wages or under any contract of hire, written or oral, express or implied.

R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 28-50-3

An employer shall not discharge, threaten, or otherwise discriminate against an employee regarding the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment:

Because the employee, or a person acting on behalf of the employee, reports or is about to report to a public body, verbally or in writing, a violation which the employee knows or reasonably believes has occurred or is about to occur, of a law or regulation or rule promulgated under the law of this state, a political subdivision of this state, or the United States, unless the employee knows or has reason to know that the report is false, or Because an employee is requested by a public body to participate in an investigation, hearing, or inquiry held by that public body, or a court action, orBecause an employee refuses to violate or assist in violating federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, or Because the employee reports verbally or in writing to the employer or to the employee’s supervisor a violation, which the employee knows or reasonably believes has occurred or is about to occur, of a law or regulation or rule promulgated under the laws of this state, a political subdivision of this state, or the United States, unless the employee knows or has reason to know that the report is false. Provided, that if the report is verbally made, the employee must establish by clear and convincing evidence that the report was made.

R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 28-50-4

(a) A person who alleges a violation of this act may bring a civil action for appropriate injunctive relief, or actual damages, or both within three (3) years after the occurrence of the alleged violation of this chapter.

(b) An action commenced pursuant to subsection (a) of this section may be brought in the superior court for the county where the alleged violation occurred, the county where the complainant resides, or the county where the person against whom the civil complaint is filed resides or has their principal place of business.

(c) As used in subsection (a) of this section, “damages” means damages for injury or loss caused by each violation of this chapter.

R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 28-50-5

A court, in rendering a judgment in an action brought under this act, shall order, as the court considers appropriate, reinstatement of the employee, the payment of back wages, full reinstatement of fringe benefits and seniority rights, actual damages, or any combination of these remedies. A court may also award the complainant all or a portion of the costs of litigation, including attorneys’ fees if the court determines that the award is appropriate.

R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 9-1.1-1

R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 9-1.1-4(g)

“Any employee, contractor, agent, or associated others”

R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 9-1.1-4(g)

“lawful acts done by the employee, contractor, agent or associated others in furtherance of an action under this section, or other efforts to stop one or more violations of this subsection including investigation for, initiation of, testimony for, or assistance in an action filed or to be filed under this section”

R.I. Gen. Laws Ann. § 9-1.1-4(g)

“all relief necessary to make the employee, contractor, agent or associated others whole. Such relief shall include reinstatement with the same seniority status such employee, contractor, agent or associated others would have had but for the discrimination, two (2) times the amount of back pay, interest on the back pay, and compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination, including litigation costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees. An employee, contractor, agent or associated others may bring an action in the appropriate superior court for the relief provided in this subsection 9-1.1-4(g).”