Protects bullying/psychological abuse in workplace inflicted upon employees by employers/co-employees/provides civil remedies to affected employees/fines against employers/imprisonment/fines against co-employees.

Rhode Island Workplace Psychological Safety Act

This bill would create new legal protections for workers in Rhode Island who experience bullying or psychological abuse on the job. Under this legislation, employees who are subjected to repeated harmful behavior — such as intimidation, verbal abuse, or other forms of psychological mistreatment — by their employer or fellow coworkers would have a legal avenue to seek help and compensation. Currently, most workplace bullying that doesn't involve discrimination based on protected characteristics like race or gender has limited legal remedies, so this bill would fill that gap.

The bill would establish consequences for those found responsible for workplace psychological abuse. Employers who allow or engage in this type of mistreatment could face financial fines. Coworkers who bully or psychologically abuse colleagues could face fines and potentially even imprisonment. Affected employees would be able to pursue civil remedies, meaning they could take legal action to seek financial compensation or other relief for the harm they experienced.

This legislation would affect virtually all workers and employers across Rhode Island. Employees in any industry who have experienced workplace bullying would gain new tools to protect themselves, while employers and managers would need to take steps to prevent and address abusive behavior in their workplaces to avoid penalties.

Currently, the bill has been introduced and referred to the Senate Labor and Gaming Committee, which has recommended it be held for further study. This means the bill has not yet advanced and will likely continue to be reviewed and debated before any vote takes place.