Tag Archives: Rhode Island

10.16.23
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Weighing Heavy: Rhode Island Makes Some Misclassification a Felony

Because of gravitational pull, topography, and geology, people apparently weigh a bit more when in Southern Illinois than in Ohio or Indiana.

For an adult human, the difference is only about .02 pounds, so relocation is probably not a viable weight loss strategy. But still. Who knew?

Meanwhile, in Rhode Island a new wage theft law is going to weigh heavily on some buysinesses, no matter what the gravitational pull might be in Providence.

Amendments to the Rhode Island Payment of Wages Act, effective 1.1.2024, drastically increase the penalties for independent contractor misclassification.

Outside of the construction industry, penalties for misclassification will include fines between $1,500 and $5,000 per misclassified employee. Complaints will result in an investigation and, if a violation is found, a lengthy new administrative process ensues that may result in referral to the state attorney general for criminal prosecution.

In the construction industry, independent contractor misclassification will now be a felony, punishable by up to three years in prison, if the violation (a) is knowing and willful, (b) is a second violation of the Rhode Island law, and (c) is valued at $1,500 or more. First violations, if knowing and willful, are misdemeanors punishable by up to one year of imprisonment, for violations valued at $1,500 or less. Violations may also result in a fine of up to $1,000, instead of or in addition to imprisonment.

The amendment contains a possible drafting error (using “and” instead of “or), creating ambiguity as to whether a first violation in the construction industry may be punishable as a felony if the offense is knowing and willful and results in an underpayment of more than $1,500. The questionably drafted section is 28-14-19.1(i)(2)(i).

“Construction industry” is defined broadly and includes remodeling, repairing, improving, and maintaining any building.

“Employer” is also defined broadly and includes “any agent” of the employing entity.

The standard for determining misclassification will be the same standard that applies to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). That means an Economic Realities Test.

The amendments also impose criminal felony penalties for other selected wage and hour violations, if knowing and willful, including (a) failure to follow payday requirements, (b) failure to timely pay wages or accrued unused vacation upon termination, and (c) failure to timely pay an employee’s family wages due upon an employee’s death. Penalties for violations of these provisions include imprisonment for up to three years.

According to this article on SHRM.org, the Rhode Island Attorney General supported the amendments as providing enhanced tools and penalties for wage theft violations. The Attorney General seems particularly focused on going after independent contractor misclassification in the construction industry.

Businesses with employees and contractors in Rhode Island should review their current practices and double check for misclassification risks. The penalties for wage and hour violations in Rhode Island will be heavier than ever, starting in 2024.

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© 2023 Todd Lebowitz, posted on WhoIsMyEmployee.com, Exploring Issues of Independent Contractor Misclassification and Joint Employment. All rights reserved.

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04.05.21
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Island Politics: Which States Are Considering New ABC Tests?

On Victoria Island in Northern Canada there is a series of long finger lakes. In one of the lakes there’s an island. Inside that smaller island, there’s a smaller lake, which contains a still smaller island about a fifth of a mile long. It is the largest known island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island. You can see it here.

I like maps and islands. I like exclaves and enclaves and have lots of questions about islands.

One of my questions is why Rhode Island came to be called that, since it’s not an island. This was particularly confusing to me in elementary school but I have come to terms with it and no longer lose sleep over this.

But now Rhode Island is causing me to lose sleep again.

Why? ABC Tests.

There are bills pending in both Rhode Island and New York that, if passed, would adopt strict ABC Tests for determining who is an employee and who is an independent contractor. The tests would follow the California AB 5/Dynamex model and the Massachusetts model, meaning that a worker providing services would automatically be classified as an employee unless (all 3):

(A) the individual is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for performance of the work and in fact;

(B) the individual performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business; and

(C) the individual is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as that involved in the work performed.

As discussed here, Part B is the killer B, the destroyer of most independent contractor relationships.

The bills have not yet passed either house, but both have popular support among legislatures that are heavily Democratic. Both bills seem to have a good chance at passing in 2021.

Keep an eye on these bills.

Meanwhile, Victoria Island is the eighth largest island in the world but has only about 2,100 people. I am not aware of any push among the mostly-Inuit inhabitants to reclassify independent contractors anywhere in Nunavut, but I also don’t feel like I have my finger on the pulse of Nunavut politics. It’s harder to track legislation there.

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© 2021 Todd Lebowitz, posted on WhoIsMyEmployee.com, Exploring Issues of Independent Contractor Misclassification and Joint Employment. All rights reserved.

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