Are non-competes enforceable against non-exempt employees in Rhode Island?

No — R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-59-3 prohibits non-competes against non-exempt employees, low-wage workers, students, and minors.

Can I still protect trade secrets through a Rhode Island NDA?

Yes — the Rhode Island Uniform Trade Secrets Act and federal DTSA provide trade secret protection independent of the Noncompetition Agreement Act.

Non-Disclosure Agreement for Rhode Island

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Rhode Island legal context

Rhode Island adopted the Uniform Trade Secrets Act at R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 6-41-1 to 6-41-11. Rhode Island's Noncompetition Agreement Act (R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 28-59-1 et seq., 2020) prohibits non-competes against low-wage workers, students, minors, and non-exempt employees. Confidentiality and trade secret clauses remain broadly enforceable.

Key RI statutes

Rhode Island Uniform Trade Secrets Act
R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 6-41-1 to 6-41-11
UTSA-style trade secret framework.
Noncompetition Agreement Act
R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 28-59-1 et seq.
Prohibits non-competes against low-wage workers, students, minors, and non-exempt employees.
DTSA
18 U.S.C. §§ 1833–1839
Federal whistleblower immunity notice required.

Rhode Island-specific considerations

Statutory Class Bans
Non-competes are unenforceable against low-wage workers, students, minors, and non-exempt employees.
Confidentiality Still Enforceable
Pure confidentiality and trade secret clauses are not subject to the Noncompetition Agreement Act's bans.
Common-Law Reasonableness
Permitted non-competes still must be reasonable in scope, duration, and geography.