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Rhode Island Labor Laws 2025

Rhode Island has comprehensive labor protections including a $14 minimum wage, Sunday premium pay for retail employees, mandatory meal breaks (20 minutes for 6-hour shifts, 30 minutes for 8-hour shifts), and paid sick and safe leave.

Important: Rhode Island requires Sunday premium pay (1.5x) for retail employees, meal breaks for most workers, and weekly or bi-weekly pay. Paid sick leave applies to employers with 18+ employees.

Minimum Wage

Rhode Island has a state minimum wage that exceeds federal law.

Key Requirements

  • State minimum wage: $14.00 per hour (as of January 1, 2024)
  • Tipped employees: $3.89/hour minimum cash wage (with tip credit)
  • Service rate employees: Full minimum wage if service charge added to bill
  • No tip credit for service charge employees
  • Applies to all employers regardless of size

Additional Resources

Overtime

Rhode Island has unique overtime rules including Sunday and holiday premium pay.

Key Requirements

  • Overtime pay: 1.5x regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek
  • Sunday premium: Retail employees receive 1.5x for Sunday work (if not already overtime)
  • Holiday premium: 1.5x for work on certain holidays
  • No daily overtime requirement (calculated weekly)
  • More protective of workers than federal FLSA alone

Additional Resources

Meal Breaks

Rhode Island requires meal breaks for employees working certain shifts.

Key Requirements

  • Meal break: 20-minute break for 6-hour shift, 30-minute break for 8-hour shift
  • Applies to most employees
  • Employees must be completely relieved of duties during unpaid meal breaks
  • No state law requiring paid rest breaks beyond meal breaks
  • Healthcare and certain other industries may have exceptions

Additional Resources

Paid Sick and Safe Leave

Rhode Island requires paid sick and safe leave for employees.

Key Requirements

  • Accrual: 1 hour for every 35 hours worked
  • Maximum accrual: 40 hours per year (32 hours for employers with fewer than 18 employees)
  • Applies to employers with 18 or more employees (paid), smaller employers provide unpaid
  • Can be used for illness, preventive care, or safe leave
  • Unused leave carries over but employer can cap total accrual

Additional Resources

Payment of Wages

Rhode Island has specific requirements for wage payment frequency and timing.

Key Requirements

  • Employees must be paid weekly or bi-weekly
  • Payment must be made within 9 days after end of pay period
  • Final wages: Must be paid by next regular payday
  • Certain wage deductions require written authorization
  • Direct deposit allowed with employee written authorization

Additional Resources

Child Labor

Rhode Island has comprehensive restrictions on youth employment.

Key Requirements

  • Work permits required for minors under 18
  • Ages 14-15: Limited to 3 hours per school day, 18 hours per week during school
  • Ages 14-15: 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week when school not in session
  • Ages 16-17: Limited to 48 hours per week, 9 hours per day
  • Minors under 16 cannot work before 7am or after 7pm (9pm in summer)

Additional Resources

Sunday and Holiday Premium Pay

Rhode Island has unique premium pay requirements:

  • Sunday premium: Retail employees receive 1.5x regular rate for Sunday work
  • Holiday premium: 1.5x for work on designated holidays
  • Premium does not apply if Sunday/holiday hours are already overtime
  • Employees can refuse Sunday work in certain circumstances

Meal Break Requirements by Shift Length

Rhode Island requires meal breaks based on shift duration:

6-Hour Shift

20 minutes

Unpaid meal break

8-Hour Shift

30 minutes

Unpaid meal break

Paid Sick and Safe Leave by Employer Size

Rhode Island's sick leave requirements vary by employer size:

18+ Employees

40 hours paid

1 hour per 35 hours worked

Fewer than 18 Employees

32 hours unpaid

1 hour per 35 hours worked

Weekly or Bi-Weekly Pay Required

Rhode Island requires more frequent pay periods than most states:

  • Employees must be paid weekly or bi-weekly
  • Payment must be made within 9 days after end of pay period
  • More frequent than semi-monthly pay allowed in many other states

Navigate Rhode Island's Labor Requirements

Rightwork automatically calculates Sunday premium pay, enforces meal break requirements based on shift length, tracks paid sick leave accruals, and manages weekly/bi-weekly payroll schedules.

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