In Rhode Island, all workers who are classified as non-exempt employees are entitled to workers’ compensation medical and wage loss benefits. If you are covered under the law, you qualify for benefits even if you are injured on the first day of the job. However, if you’re employed under another worker classification, it may affect whether you are covered under Rhode Island Workers' Compensation laws. .jpeg)
Employees Exempt From Rhode Island Workers' Comp
To qualify for Rhode Island workers’ compensation benefits, you don’t need to be employed for any specific length of time, be a United States citizen, or be properly documented to work in the U.S. However, you do have to qualify as a covered employee.
Employees who may not be covered under workers’ compensation include:
- Independent contractors or workers who are performing certain contracted tasks or do not meet the definition of an employee
- Agriculture employees, including farmers, nursery operators, or farm laborers whose employers do not employ 25 or more farm laborers or agricultural employees for at least 13 consecutive weeks
- Domestic service employees such as babysitters, housekeepers, or nannies
- Any licensed real estate broker or salesperson whose payment is earned through a salary or commission (rather than payment for the number of hours worked)
