Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026
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Whenever used in this chapter, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) “Construction industry” means the business of constructing, reconstructing, altering, maintaining, moving, rehabilitating, repairing, renovating, or demolition of any building, structure, or improvement to the excavation of or other development or improvement to land, highways, or other real property.

(2) “Department” means the department of labor and training.

(3) “Director” means the director of the department of labor and training or the director’s duly authorized representative.

(4) “Employee” means any person suffered or permitted to work by an employer, except that independent contractors or subcontractors shall not be considered employees.

(5) “Employer” means any individual, firm, partnership, association, joint stock company, trust, corporation, receiver, or other like officer appointed by a court of this state, and any agent or officer of any of the previously mentioned classes, employing any person in this state.

(6) “Wages” means all amounts at which the labor or service rendered is recompensed, whether the amount is fixed or ascertained on a time, task, piece, commission basis, or other method of calculating the amount.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 18 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 1997–2026 · leading case: McElroy v. Fid. Invs. Institutional Servs. Co., 298 F. Supp. 3d 357 (D.R.I. 2018).
McElroy v. Fid. Invs. Institutional Servs. Co., 298 F. Supp. 3d 357 (D.R.I. 2018). · cites it 2× “There is no doubt that the substance of Ms. McElroy's claim for breach of contract is one for wages, and that her wages included commissions.”
Baltimore Harbor Charters, Ltd. v. Ayd, 780 A.2d 303 (Md. 2001). “210 (1999); R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1 (2000); S.D. Codified Laws § 60-11-2 (Michie 1993); Vt.”
Trs. of the Local Union No. 17 Sheet Metal Workers' Apprenticeship Fund v. May Eng'g Co., 951 F. Supp. 346 (D.R.I. 1997). · cites it 5× “Specifically, May Engineering contends that a limitations period found in the Rhode Island Payment of Wages statute, R.I.Gen.Laws § 28-14-1 et seq., should govern this case, and that plaintiffs’ action is time-barred under either the one-year or three-year limitations period…”
Richard Bisbano Sr. v. Strine Printing Co., Inc., 135 A.3d 1202 (R.I. 2016). · cites it 2× “” Section 28-14-1(4) (emphases added). The statute also provides that “[a]ny claim hereunder shall be forever barred unless commenced within three (3) years after, the cause of action accrued.”
Doyle v. Huntress, Inc., 513 F.3d 331 (1st Cir. 2008). “” R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1(4). Section 28-14-20 is clearly the comparable non-admiralty action: were the seamen able to bring their claim under Rhode Island state law, their action would be based on this statute.”
McDaniel v. Preserve Prop. Mgmt. Co., LLC (D.R.I. 2024). · cites it 5× “Laws § 42-112-1, the Rhode Island Payment of Wages Act (“RIPWA”), R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1 et seq., and the state statute prohibiting the misclassification of employees, see R.”
Wongbay (D.R.I. 2025). · cites it 3× “G.L. § 28-14-1 . (“RIPWA”) (ECF No. 1). Counts I, II, and III of Ms.”
Apostolico v. Norwich Com. Grp. (D.R.I. 2020). · cites it 2× “Significantly, DeFronzo is a Rhode Island employer per R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1, and, crediting the proffered allegations, he knowingly failed to compensate Apostolico, a former employee of his Rhode Island enterprise.”
Ryder v. Pearson Educ., Inc. (D.R.I. 2020). · cites it 2× “1, § 28-14-1 and § 28-14-2. ECF No. 23 at 14-15, ¶¶ 110-16.”
Wongbay v. Balise T, LLC (D.R.I. 2023). · cites it 2× “G.L. § 28-14-1 . Balise has moved for partial dismissal of certain claims pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.”
Maestas v. Kent Cnty. Mem'l Hosp. (D.R.I. 2023). · cites it 2× “For the state law claims, Counts 1, 2, and 3 are made pursuant to the Rhode Island Payment of Wages Act, R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1; Counts 6 and 7 are made pursuant to the Rhode Island Minimum Wages Act, R.”
Carmen Rivas Mendizabal v. Faria Meat Mkt. LLC (D.R.I. 2026). · cites it 2× “Mendizabal brings a claim under RIPWA, R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1 et seq., alleging that Faria Market failed to properly compensate her for overtime wages.”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1(4) — 6 cases
McElroy v. Fid. Invs. Institutional Servs. Co., 298 F. Supp. 3d 357 (D.R.I. 2018). “There is no doubt that the substance of Ms. McElroy's claim for breach of contract is one for wages, and that her wages included commissions.”
Richard Bisbano Sr. v. Strine Printing Co., Inc., 135 A.3d 1202 (R.I. 2016). “” Section 28-14-1(4) (emphases added). The statute also provides that “[a]ny claim hereunder shall be forever barred unless commenced within three (3) years after, the cause of action accrued.”
Trs. of the Local Union No. 17 Sheet Metal Workers' Apprenticeship Fund v. May Eng'g Co., 951 F. Supp. 346 (D.R.I. 1997). “Specifically, May Engineering contends that a limitations period found in the Rhode Island Payment of Wages statute, R.I.Gen.Laws § 28-14-1 et seq., should govern this case, and that plaintiffs’ action is time-barred under either the one-year or three-year limitations period…”
Doyle v. Huntress, Inc., 513 F.3d 331 (1st Cir. 2008). “” R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1(4). Section 28-14-20 is clearly the comparable non-admiralty action: were the seamen able to bring their claim under Rhode Island state law, their action would be based on this statute.”
Ryder v. Pearson Educ., Inc. (D.R.I. 2020). “1, § 28-14-1 and § 28-14-2. ECF No. 23 at 14-15, ¶¶ 110-16.”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1(5) — 1 case
McDaniel v. Preserve Prop. Mgmt. Co., LLC (D.R.I. 2024). “Laws § 42-112-1, the Rhode Island Payment of Wages Act (“RIPWA”), R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1 et seq., and the state statute prohibiting the misclassification of employees, see R.”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-1(6) — 1 case
Wongbay (D.R.I. 2025). “G.L. § 28-14-1 . (“RIPWA”) (ECF No. 1). Counts I, II, and III of Ms.”
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