AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- EMPLOYEES' FREE SPEECH IN WORKPLACE .

Workers can refuse political and religious messages

Effective upon passage, this Rhode Island law protects workers who refuse certain employer-sponsored meetings, speeches, or messages. Their main purpose must be sharing the employer’s political or religious views. Employers and their representatives cannot fire, discipline, threaten, or otherwise punish workers for refusing. Covered political matters must be unrelated to the employer’s business or business activities. They include elections, parties, proposed law or rule changes, and joining or supporting political, civic, fraternal, or labor groups. Religious matters include religious practice, affiliation, and joining or supporting religious groups. Exceptions cover legally required information, information needed for job duties, college coursework and academic programs, optional casual talks, and manager-only or supervisor-only communications. Religious groups exempt under federal employment discrimination law are exempt for religious speech to employees working on those groups’ activities. Workers can sue, and courts can order violations stopped, job reinstatement, back pay, restored benefits and seniority, damages, and reasonable attorney fees and costs.