Rhode Island’s Payment of Wages Act Imposes Felony Penalties on Employers

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Rhode Island Payment of Wages Act will make a “knowing and willful” wage and hour violation punishable as a criminal felony. Should an employer or its agent engage in such a violation regarding a failure to pay wages of more than $1,500 or misclassify workers as independent contractors in the construction industry, the employer may be criminally prosecuted and may face imprisonment for up to three years and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
Source: New feed 2