What it can be used for
The employee's or a family member's illness, injury, medical or preventive care; workplace or school closure in a public health emergency; contagious disease exposure; and needs linked to domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
Notice and documentation
You may ask for reasonable documentation only for absences of more than 3 consecutive workdays, and only if you told employees in writing beforehand. Employees must give advance notice when the need is foreseeable. Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
Who is not covered
State and municipal employees, and certain per diem nurses with no set schedule who are paid a premium. New hires can be made to wait up to 90 days before using leave. Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
Penalties
Civil penalty of at least $100 for a first violation, with later penalties and employee remedies under the state wage payment law. Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab)
The law and where to check
The law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-57-1 et seq. (opens in a new tab)
The agency: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (opens in a new tab)
What federal law says
No federal law requires private employers to give paid sick leave. Federal contractors must give up to 7 days a year under Executive Order 13706. Source: U.S. Department of Labor↗ (opens in a new tab) Source: U.S. DOL — EO 13706↗ (opens in a new tab)
Paid sick leave checklist for Rhode Island employers
A simple order of work, based on the rules above. It is not a legal checklist.
- Check whether your business size is covered by the rule above.
- Set up accrual in your payroll or HR system (or front-load the yearly amount).
- Write a sick leave policy covering accrual, the cap, carryover, notice and documentation.
- Show each employee's balance where your state requires it.
- Check for city or county sick leave laws where your staff work.
- Keep records of time earned and used.
More Rhode Island employment law guides
- All Rhode Island employment laws
- Rhode Island final paycheck law
- Rhode Island meal and rest break laws
- Rhode Island overtime law
- Rhode Island pay frequency law
- Rhode Island vacation and PTO payout law
- Rhode Island new hire reporting
- Rhode Island at-will exceptions
Paid sick leave laws in other states
See every state on one page, or pick a state:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
All official government sources, last checked October 19, 2026.
- https://dlt.ri.gov/regulation-and-safety/labor-standards/paid-sick-and-safe-leave
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-57/28-57-5.htm
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-57/28-57-6.htm
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-57/28-57-4.htm
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-57/28-57-10.htm
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-57/INDEX.htm
- https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/workhours/sickleave
- https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/sick-leave
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information based on publicly available official sources and is for information only. It is not legal, tax, payroll or employment-law advice and does not guarantee compliance with federal, state or local requirements. Rules can depend on your location, industry, contracts and other circumstances, and laws change. Always check the official source, the relevant government agency or a qualified professional before making a decision. MadyHR.ai accepts no responsibility for any action taken based on this page.
Last checked: . Every rule and source link on this page was checked against the official government source on this date. Laws change, so always open the source link before you act.