Rhode Island Prohibits Captive Audience Meetings

Rhode Island has enacted legislation (House Bill 5506 SUB A), which prohibits mandatory employer-sponsored meetings regarding religious and political matters. House Bill 5506 SUB A is effective immediately.

The details

The law provides the following definitions:

• Political matters: Topics that are unrelated to an employer’s business or business activities, such as:
  
  
• Religious matters: Matters relating to religious affiliation and practice and the decision whether to join or support any religious organization or association.

Nonretaliation

Under House Bill 5506 SUB A, a Rhode Island employer (or the employer’s agent, designee, or representative) cannot take certain actions against an employee that refuses to attend a mandatory employer-sponsored meeting to learn about the employer’s views and opinions concerning religious or political matters.

The law prohibits covered employers from:

• Discharging, disciplining, penalizing (or threatening any of these actions); or
• Taking any adverse employment action against an employee, including situations where an employee refuses to listen to a speech or view a communication (such as an electronic communication).

Note: The law does not prohibit casual conversations on religious or political matters, provided participation in the conversation is not required.

Next steps

Review employee meeting policies and procedures and train supervisors on the changes under House Bill 5506 SUB A.