Have you recently lost your job? If so, you might be wondering whether you have grounds for a wrongful termination lawsuit. In Rhode Island, as in other states, employees work at will. This means an employee can generally be fired at any time and for any reason, or for no reason at all.
But there are some exceptions to the at-will rule. For example, if your Rhode Island employer fires you for discriminatory reasons, in violation of an employment contract, or in retaliation for exercising your rights, you may have a legal claim against your employer for wrongful termination.
Every state's laws on wrongful termination are different. This article covers some of the common legal grounds you might have for suing your Rhode Island employer for wrongful termination. But it's not a comprehensive list of Rhode Island employment rights, which can change as courts issue new rulings and legislators pass or modify laws. To find out the full extent of your legal claims, speak to an experienced Rhode Island employment lawyer. To learn more about Rhode Island employment law, contact the office of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an employer to fire an employee based on a protected characteristic. Federal law prohibits employers from firing employees based on race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, religion, age (if the employee is at least 40), disability, citizenship status, or genetic information. However, only employers with a minimum number of employees must comply with these laws. Most types of discrimination are prohibited once an employer has at least 15 employees. However, the minimum is 20 employees for age discrimination and four employees for citizenship status discrimination.
Rhode Island law prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, religion, age (40 to 70), disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, AIDS or HIV status, gender identity or expression, homelessness, or status as a victim of domestic abuse. Rhode Island employers must comply with these laws if they have at least four employees. All employers must comply with state laws prohibiting gender-based wage discrimination, even if they have only one employee.
These laws also make it illegal for an employer to retaliate against you for asserting your rights. For example, if you complain to your company's HR department that you believe you were passed over for promotion because of your age, your employer may not discipline or fire you for your complaint. Likewise, your employer cannot fire you for participating in an investigation of a discrimination complaint (no matter who made the complaint), testifying in court, or making other efforts to stop discriminatory practices.
Before filing a discrimination or retaliation lawsuit, you must file a complaint with the appropriate government agency. The Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights enforces the state's laws prohibiting discrimination; the Commission has offices in Providence. In many cases, state fair employment practices agencies will record your complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency that enforces federal antidiscrimination laws. However, you should check to make sure. If not, you may also have to file a complaint with the EEOC; you can find contact information for the nearest office at the EEOC's Field Offices page.
If you have a written employment contract promising you job security, you are not an at-will employee. Rhode Island also recognizes implied employment contracts based on statements in an employee handbook or other written policy, as long as the employee reasonably believes that the policy will continue to be valid. For example, if your employee handbook states that employees will be fired only for good cause, and there is no disclaimer that the company can change the policy at any time, you may have an implied contract. If you have an employment contract, and your employer fires you without good cause, you have a legal claim for breach of contract.
Rhode Island employees are entitled to a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour. Under federal and state law, employees who work more than 40 hours a week are eligible for overtime. Under Rhode Island law, employees are entitled to an unpaid 20-minute meal break during a six-hour shift; employees who work an eight-hour shift are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break. Under federal law, employers who choose to offer shorter breaks throughout the day (20 minutes or less), must generally pay employees for that time. Employers also must pay their employees for any time during which they must work, even if the employer characterizes that time as a "break."
It is illegal for employers to fire or otherwise retaliate against employees who make wage complaints to their employers or who institute legal proceedings to recover unpaid wages.
State and federal laws give employees the right to take time off work for certain civic obligations and personal responsibilities. Employers may not discipline or fire workers for exercising these rights. In Rhode Island, these rights include:
Employers may not fire employees who file complaints about workplace safety violations or who exercise any rights under occupational health and safety laws.
If you think you were fired illegally, talk to a Rhode Island employment lawyer. Whether you want to get your job back, negotiate a settlement, or file a lawsuit, a lawyer can help you assert your legal rights. A lawyer can also inform you of any other claims that you might have under state or local law.
Learn if you have been wrongfully terminated and if you are protected under your state's labor laws.
Find out what a court can award if you win a wrongful termination lawsuit.
With a few exceptions, employers may not adopt a mandatory retirement age.
If you're fired for misconduct, you won't be eligible for unemployment benefits.