Psychological safety bill back before Rhode Island lawmakers

Providence, RI — Rhode Island lawmakers have reintroduced legislation intended to protect workers from psychological abuse – such as bullying – on the job.

The Workplace Psychological Safety Act (H.B. 8044 and S.B. 2473) would make it unlawful for an employer or employee to “engage in psychological abuse … that creates a toxic work environment in which a reasonable person would find it intolerable” to perform regular work duties, or that could cause injury or jeopardize future career prospects.

Employers would have 180 days to adopt and implement preventive and detective internal policies (including anti-retaliation policies) regarding psychological abuse. Those policies would need to have a broad reporting procedure, including formal and informal reporting methods.

All managers, supervisors and other representative employees would be required to undergo training on handling complaints of psychologically abusive behaviors.

Potential remedies for complainants who prove a violation would range from an apology and mandatory training to compensable damages for pain and suffering or punitive damages to deter future acts of abuse.

Similar legislation, approved by state Senate in June, was referred to the House Labor Committee.

H.B. 8044 is sponsored by 10 Democrats, led by Rep. Raymond Hull (D-Providence). S.B. 2473 is sponsored by five Democrats and two Republicans, led by Frank Ciccone (D-Providence). Both bills were introduced in March and have been assigned to their respective Labor committees.