In the 1990s, the passage of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) introduced legal protections for certain employees who time off work to care for themselves or relatives. Prior to FMLA, workers in Rhode Island and throughout the country had few federal...
Employees in Rhode Island hope that the companies they work for conduct business ethically, honestly and professionally. However, those things don't always happen. Fortunately, a whistleblower shines a light on illegal, unsafe, fraudulent or other activities that a...
Finding out that you're pregnant is one of the most exciting times in most people's lives. But unfortunately, many women in Rhode Island face workplace discrimination based on their pregnancy. These instances of discrimination violate both state and federal employment...
For ethnic minorities in Rhode Island, leadership positions at work may come with barriers to entry. Despite progress toward inclusion and diversity, many workplaces still have a glass ceiling for ethnic minorities and struggle to prevent discrimination from affecting...
There are state and federal guidelines in place that protect Rhode Island residents from dealing with incivility in the workplace. Unfortunately, multiple studies indicate that the amount of incivility in the workplace is on the rise. Toxic workplaces create a litany...
Discrimination in the workplace can take many forms, including overt acts of prejudice, such as name-calling or physical harassment. However, there is another form of discrimination that is equally damaging but often harder to detect: subtle discrimination. This type...
Employers in Rhode Island can't interfere with your FMLA rights. If they do, then you could take legal action to protect your ability to take family and medical leave. Interference isn't just the obvious forms, such as attempting to prevent you from taking time off...
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is a federal law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay and other employment standards for employees in the United States. If you're a Rhode Island worker and you believe that your employer has violated your rights under the...
In Rhode Island, whistleblowers who report illegal activities at their place of employment assume the risk of retaliation. However, these employees have legal recourse for protection. Some whistleblowers have been awarded multimillion-dollar jury awards due to the...
Rhode Island is a state full of hard-working people. Understandably, these individuals want to feel valued by employers. However, some workers are unfortunately targeted based on factors outside their control. One of the most prevalent types of workplace...