As used in this chapter:
(1) “Employee” means a person employed by any employer, and shall include, but not be
limited to: at-will employees, contract employees, applicants, prospective employees,
and independent contractors.
(2) “Employer” means any person, partnership, association, sole proprietorship, corporation,
or other business entity, including any department, agency, commission, committee,
board, council, bureau, or authority or any subdivision thereof in state or municipal
government. One shall employ another if services are performed for wages or under
any contract of hire, written or oral, express or implied.
(3) “Person” means an individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, association,
or any other legal entity.
(4) “Public body” means all of the following:
(i) A state officer, employee, agency, department, division, bureau, board, commission,
council, authority, or other body in the executive branch of state government;
(ii) An agency, board, commission, council, member, or employee of the legislative branch
of state government;
(iii) A county, city, town, or regional governing body, a council, school district, or a
board, department, commission, agency, or any member or employee of the entity;
(iv) Any other body that is created by state or local authority or that is primarily funded
by or through state or local authority, or any member or employee of that body;
(v) A law enforcement agency or any member or employee of a law enforcement agency;
(vi) The judiciary and any member or employee of the judiciary;
(vii) Any federal agency.
(5) “Supervisor” means any individual to whom an employer has given the authority to direct
and control the work performance of the affected employee or any individual who has
the authority to take corrective action regarding the violation of a law, rule, or
regulation about which the employee complains.
Notes of Decisions
Maturi v. McLaughlin Rsch. Corp., 413 F.3d 166 (1st Cir. 2005).
“Although the DCAA arguably constitutes "a public body” under R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-2(4) (" 'Public body’ means .”
Picard v. State, 694 A.2d 754 (R.I. 1997).
“A public body is defined in § 28-50-2(4) as follows: (i) A state officer, employee, agency, department, division, bureau, board, commission, council, authority, or other body in the executive branch of state government.”
Carrington Mortg. Servs., LLC v. DeLory (D.R.I. 2024).
· cites it 2× “DeLory counterclaims under the RIWPA, R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-2, and common law that he was unlawfully terminated because he reported to Carrington that it was engaging in fraudulent mortgage practices.”
Cote v. State of Rhode Island (D.R.I. 2025).
· cites it 2× “R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-2(2) (listing the state and its subdivisions as “employers” for the purposes of the WPA).”
Maturi v. McLaughlin Rsch. Corp., 326 F. Supp. 2d 313 (D.R.I. 2004).
· cites it 2× “R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-2(4). MRC and its employees clearly do not fall into any of these categories.”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-2(2) — 3 cases
Cote v. State of Rhode Island (D.R.I. 2025).
“R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-2(2) (listing the state and its subdivisions as “employers” for the purposes of the WPA).”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-2(4) — 3 cases
Maturi v. McLaughlin Rsch. Corp., 413 F.3d 166 (1st Cir. 2005).
“Although the DCAA arguably constitutes "a public body” under R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-2(4) (" 'Public body’ means .”
Picard v. State, 694 A.2d 754 (R.I. 1997).
“A public body is defined in § 28-50-2(4) as follows: (i) A state officer, employee, agency, department, division, bureau, board, commission, council, authority, or other body in the executive branch of state government.”
Maturi v. McLaughlin Rsch. Corp., 326 F. Supp. 2d 313 (D.R.I. 2004).
“R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-2(4). MRC and its employees clearly do not fall into any of these categories.”
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-50-2(4)(iii) — 1 case
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