Rhode Island Predictive Scheduling and Local Authority

Rhode Island does not currently have a statewide predictive scheduling, fair workweek, or secure scheduling law. Employers must comply with general wage and hour rules under RIGL Title 28, including overtime, meal break, and reporting time provisions where applicable. Several legislative proposals to require advance notice of schedules and predictability pay for last-minute changes have been introduced in the General Assembly but have not been enacted. Without express preemption language, municipalities theoretically retain authority to address scheduling in some contexts, though no Rhode Island city has enacted a comprehensive predictive scheduling ordinance to date.

Without a predictive scheduling law, employer schedule changes generally do not give rise to civil penalties unless they violate other wage and hour rules under RIGL Title 28 and DLT regulations.