Confidentiality of Employee Assistance Programs and Ban on Requesting Applicants' Tax Returns
RI EAP Confidentiality / Applicant Tax Records
Employees · Health · Financial
Two short Rhode Island employee privacy laws. One bars employers from releasing names, addresses or other confidential information obtained through an employee's participation in an employee assistance program; the other bars employers from asking job applicants for copies of their tax returns or W-2 forms as a condition of being considered.
- Where
- Rhode Island
- Citation
- R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 28-6.8-1 to 28-6.8-2; 28-6.9-1 to 28-6.9-2
- Status
- In force
- Enforced by
- Courts via employee or applicant civil actions
- People can sue
- Yes
- Penalties
- Courts may award actual and punitive damages, reasonable attorney's fees and costs, and injunctive relief (§§ 28-6.8-2, 28-6.9-2).
- Applies to
- Employers in Rhode Island that operate employee assistance programs
- Employers and their agents considering job applicants
Practices it requires
- Do not release an employee's name, address or other confidential information obtained through participation in an employee assistance program, except information about a crime that must be reported by law.R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-6.8-1
- Do not request or require job applicants to provide federal or state income tax returns, W-2 statements or related tax documents as a condition of consideration for employment.R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-6.9-1
Sources
- Official text
- R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 28-6.8 (Rhode Island General Assembly)
- R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 28-6.9 (Rhode Island General Assembly)
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Research reference, not legal advice.