The Rhode Island Labor Law Guide

Minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay rate that employers are legally obligated to pay employees. The federal minimum wage is a wage baseline, but different states, cities, and regions can adopt their own rates. 

As of 2024, the minimum wage is $14.00 per hour for most employees.

Starting January 1st, 2025, the minimum wage will be $15.00 for most employees.

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Tipped minimum wage is the lowest hourly pay rate employers are legally obligated to pay employees who earn a significant portion of their income through tips.

$3.89 per hour for most tipped employees (as of 2024)

Rhode Island overtime laws require non-exempt employees to receive paid time and a half for every hour worked over 40 hours within a workweek. Overtime must be calculated weekly and not over an average of two weeks.

Rhode Island wage and hour laws require that most nonexempt employees be given at least a 20-minute meal break during a 6-hour shift. 

Employees who work 8 hours or more must be given at least a 30-minute meal break. However, the meal breaks may be unpaid if employees are completely relieved of all duties.

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Vacation leave
Rhode Island has no state laws requiring private employers to provide paid or unpaid vacation leave.

Paid Sick Leave
Rhode Island law requires employers with 18 or more employees to provide paid sick leave to certain eligible employees. Employees can earn one hour of sick leave for every 35 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours per year.

The Health and Safe Families and Workplaces Act (HSFWA) allows employees to use 40 hours of paid sick leave annually. 

Holidays
Rhode Island has no state laws requiring private employers to provide paid or unpaid holiday leave. If an employer offers holiday pay, they can give extra pay (typically an hour and a half) for their employees who work on holidays—this is not mandated by law but can be part of an employment agreement.

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In Rhode Island, minors under 14 are generally prohibited from working, except for some exceptions, such as delivering the newspaper. 

Minors 14 years old usually have working permits through school, which are completed by their employer and a parent or guardian. 

There are restrictions regarding hazardous occupations for minors, such as construction and manufacturing. 

Employers must keep records of the minor’s age and working hours. 

Laws for minors 14-15 years old:

• Can work a maximum of 8 hours per day when school is in session.

• Can work between 6 AM and 7 PM, except the hours can be extended to 9 PM during summer break.

Laws for minors 16-17 years old:

• Can work a maximum of 48 hours per week, and 9 hours per day.

• May not work before 6AM or after 11:30PM.

• Must be provided with an 8-hour break between shifts.

• When school is not in session, there are no limitations on hours a minor can work, nor is there a curfew enforced.

Hiring
Rhode Island’s Fair Employment Practices Act prohibits hiring discrimination against the following characteristics:  

• Race

• Color

• Religion

• Sex

• Sexual orientation

• Gender identity

• Disability

• Age

• Country of origin 

Firing
Rhode Island employers have the right to terminate employees at will for nearly any reason or no reason at all, as long as the termination is not discriminatory, retaliatory, or in violation of public policy.