The following words or phrases, as used in this chapter, mean the following:

(1)  “Employee” means any person who may be permitted, required, or directed by an employer in consideration of direct or indirect gain or profit to engage in any employment. “Employee” does include an independent contractor. “Employee” includes an employee of a covered employer who has been employed by the same employer for at least twelve (12) months, and has been employed from at least one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) hours of service during a twelve-month (12) period immediately preceding the commencement of leave.

(2)  “Employee benefits” means all benefits, other than salary or wages, provided or made available to employees by an employer and includes group life insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, and pensions, regardless of whether benefits are provided by a policy or practice of an employer.

(3)  “Employer” means any person, partnership, corporation, association, other business entities, the state of Rhode Island, Rhode Island municipalities, and other units of local government.

(4)  “Family military leave”, means leave requested by an employee who is the spouse or parent of a person called to military service lasting longer than thirty (30) days with the state of Rhode Island or the United States pursuant to the orders of the governor of Rhode Island or the President of the United States.