Rhode Island paid sick leave
In effect since July 1, 2018
1 hour for every 35 hours worked
18+ employees (paid) must let employees accrue and use up to 40 hours of paid sick leave a year. Fewer than 18 employees: exempt from paid leave, but may not take adverse action against an employee for using up to 40 hours of sick time.
| Accrual | 1 hour for every 35 hours worked |
|---|---|
| Annual cap | 40 hours Use may be limited to 40 hours a year |
| Who must provide it | 18+ employees (paid) |
| Waiting period | Up to 90 days for new hires. Temporary employees: from the 180th day. Seasonal: from the 150th day. |
| Carryover | Unused time carries over. Use can still be limited to 40 hours a year. |
| Front-loading | Allowed |
| Payout when employment ends | Not required |
| Covered uses | Employee's or family member's illness, injury, health condition, diagnosis or preventive care; domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking needs; public health closures |
Details and exceptions
- The RI DLT site returned 403 to plain HTTP, so the statute is the source.
Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-57-1 et seq. (Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act)
Running payroll in Rhode Island?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- Rhode Island General Assembly (R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-57-5); enforced by RI Department of Labor and Training · data as of October 8, 2026 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.