§ 28-50-3 - Protection. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 28-50-3

   § 28-50-3  Protection. – An employer shall not discharge, threaten, or otherwise discriminate against anemployee regarding the employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location, orprivileges of employment:

   (1) Because the employee, or a person acting on behalf of theemployee, reports or is about to report to a public body, verbally or inwriting, a violation which the employee knows or reasonably believes hasoccurred or is about to occur, of a law or regulation or rule promulgated underthe law of this state, a political subdivision of this state, or the UnitedStates, unless the employee knows or has reason to know that the report isfalse, or

   (2) Because an employee is requested by a public body toparticipate in an investigation, hearing, or inquiry held by that public body,or a court action, or

   (3) Because an employee refuses to violate or assist inviolating federal, state or local law, rule or regulation, or

   (4) Because the employee reports verbally or in writing tothe employer or to the employee's supervisor a violation, which the employeeknows or reasonably believes has occurred or is about to occur, of a law orregulation or rule promulgated under the laws of this state, a politicalsubdivision of this state, or the United States, unless the employee knows orhas reason to know that the report is false. Provided, that if the report isverbally made, the employee must establish by clear and convincing evidencethat the report was made.