Stand Up for Rhode Island Workers

"When employers cheat workers by failing to pay them the wages they are due, it’s theft – plain and simple." -- AG Neronha

In 2023, we introduced a bill that passed the General Assembly to strengthen penalties for wage theft and other labor violations like employee misclassification, which is when an employer falsely treats an employee as an independent contractor in order to avoid paying benefits, overtime, taxes, Social Security Insurance, Medicare, and workers’ compensation insurance.

As a result, wage theft was reclassified from a misdemeanor to a felony offense, and employee misclassification was reclassified from a misdemeanor to a civil penalty or a felony penalty for the construction industry.

We’re taking action. Using the Office’s sworn investigators, AG Neronha has aggressively pursued companies that deny employees hard-earned wages or attempt to cheat the system by misclassifying their workers.

Portsmouth construction company owner pleads to wage theft charges; ordered to pay restitution

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Portsmouth man pleaded to misdemeanor wage theft charges in Newport County District Court and was ordered to pay over $1,500 in unpaid wages to two former employees.

Attorney General Neronha and state labor leaders seek to strengthen penalties for wage theft and worker misclassification

“Employers who fail to pay workers their hard-earned wages or misclassify them as independent contractors not only cheat their workers, but also cheat Rhode Island taxpayers... the punishment should fit the crime and ultimately deter this conduct."