Federal & State Regulations | Employment contracts - Rhode Island

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Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

Federal law generally does not regulate employment contracts between employers and employees with one exception: contracts that require the joining or refraining from joining of a labor union as a condition of employment. On the federal level, these contracts are governed by the National Labor Relations Act. States may have a corresponding provision and may also have additional provisions regarding employment contracts.

Rhode Island law does not have a corresponding provision specific to employment contracts and union membership. It does, however, have the following provisions concerning employment contracts.

Wage payment law/Bonuses

An employer can not enter into any private agreement with employees to contravene the wage payment law. The payment of bonuses as set forth in a written employment contract will not be subject to the provisions of the wage payment law. §28-14-9

Waiver of rights

An employee can not be required to enter into an agreement to waive his or her rights to temporary disability insurance benefits, unemployment compensation benefits, or to workers’ compensation insurance benefits, nor to enter into an agreement to pay any portion of the employer’s required contributions to those funds. §28-41-30, §28-44-56 and §28-33-26