Rhode Island Paid Sick Leave Under Healthy and Safe Families Act

RIGL Chapter 28-57, enacted in 2017 and effective in phases, requires Rhode Island employers with 18 or more employees to provide up to 40 hours of paid sick and safe leave per year, with smaller employers required to provide unpaid leave. Employees accrue at least one hour for every 35 hours worked, up to the annual cap. Leave may be used for the employee's own illness, family member care, domestic violence situations, public health emergencies, and bereavement in some circumstances. The Department of Labor and Training enforces compliance, and retaliation against employees using leave is prohibited. The statewide framework establishes uniform standards, generally preventing inconsistent local mandates.

Employers denying lawful paid sick leave or retaliating against employees can face civil penalties, back pay obligations, and reinstatement orders through Department of Labor and Training enforcement actions.