Employee Privacy: Rhode Island

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Jessica Sussman

Updating Author: Brightmine Editorial Team

Summary

• Rhode Island recognizes the right to privacy by statute and individuals maintain claims for unreasonable intrusion upon seclusion, misappropriation, false light publicity and unreasonable publicity of one's private life. See Right to Privacy.
• Rhode Island law permits the interception of phone communications with the consent of one or more parties to the conversation. See Telephone and Other Protected Communications.
• Rhode Island law permits employers to intercept electronic communications on company computer systems based on the consent of one party. See Electronic Communications.
• Employers may not ask questions, verbally or in writing, regarding whether a job applicant has ever been arrested or charged with a crime, but may inquire about conviction records. See Arrest and Conviction Records.
• Rhode Island has a law protecting the social media privacy rights of employees and applicants. See Social Media Privacy.