What to Do When You’re Wrongfully Terminated in Rhode Island
If you think you may have been wrongfully terminated from your job because of discrimination, for taking protected leave, in retaliation for protected conduct, or because of other illegal actions on the part of your employer, there may be legal remedies available to you. To ensure your rights are protected if you have been wrongfully terminated, it is essential to contact a highly qualified Rhode Island employment law attorney as soon as possible.
What Defines Sexual Harassment in Rhode Island and Massachusetts?
Federal and state laws protect Rhode Island employees from being victims of sexual harassment in the workplace. Unwanted touching, suggestive comments, and other advances can create a hostile work environment, so discuss your options with a caring employment law attorney today.
Understanding Unpaid Wait Time and Employee Misclassification in Rhode Island
The misclassification of an employee can negatively impact workers in several ways, such as denying them overtime, paid time off, paid wait time, and other benefits. Discuss your options with a skilled Rhode Island employment law attorney today to learn more.
Wage Theft to Become a Felony in Rhode Island Starting January 1, 2024
On June 22, 2023, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed legislation increasing the possible criminal penalty for an employer committing wage theft to that of a felony beginning January 1, 2024.
Faith Gets a Fair Shake: Supreme Court Bolsters Protections for Religious Accommodations in the Workplace
In a unanimous decision on June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court in Groff v. DeJoy, Postmaster General, No. 22-174, overturned lower court decisions and reiterated what it means for an employer to experience “undue hardship” when asked to provide religious accommodations.
A Worker’s Right to Mobility: Unpacking the NLRB Memo on Non-Compete Agreements
On May 30, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a government agency vested with safeguarding employees’ rights, issued a crucial memorandum targeting a long-standing thorn in the side of workers: non-compete agreements. In this article, Sinapi Law unpacks what this memo means and why it could potentially alter the landscape for workers’ rights in the United States.
Religious Accommodations: What is a Sincerely Held Religious Belief and Common Issues
Religious accommodation and exemptions have been in the news a lot recently, with both very good and very inaccurate information being thrown around. While there is a great deal of litigation and new legislation on the topic, we thought it may be helpful to share some of what we know. While the issue of religion and the law is vast, this piece focuses on one of our firm’s primary practice areas: accommodation in the workplace.
Rhode Island’s New Pay Equity Act: The Essentials
We recently learned that some employers are telling their workers that Rhode Island’s new pay equity law does not apply to them, and even that it does not affect wages at all. While we cannot know everyone’s precise situation, it struck us that it would be helpful for employees to have the essentials of the new law available to them. While the act does many things, the highlights for workers are summarized here.
Wage Theft: If You’re Not Getting Paid, You’re Getting Played
Wage theft is a pervasive problem in the United States, affecting millions of workers every year. It occurs when an employer fails to pay employees the wages they are legally owed, including minimum wage, overtime, and commissions.
According to a study by the National Employment Law Project, over two-thirds of low-wage workers in the United States have experienced wage theft in the past week. This equates to over $50 billion in lost wages each year. The study also found that wage theft was most prevalent in industries such as hospitality, agriculture, and retail, where workers are often paid low wages and have limited access to legal protections. Here are some tips for workers to protect themselves from wage theft.
DOCUMENT EVERYTHING: The Importance of Documenting Complaints, Interactions, and Events in Employment Discrimination and Retaliation Cases
Documentation is a crucial aspect in employment discrimination and retaliation cases. It helps to provide evidence of any discriminatory or retaliatory behavior, which can then be used to support a complaint or lawsuit. In many cases of discrimination or retaliation, it can be difficult to prove that it actually took place. This is where documentation comes in. Keeping a record of all interactions, events, and communications related to the discrimination or retaliation can be incredibly helpful in building a case. This includes notes of any incidents, copies of emails, and any relevant documents or recordings.