Rhode Island Employee Handbook

When your company hires employees in Rhode Island, you are required to comply with federal, state, and local employment laws. There are a variety of human resources and labor policies in the workplace that differ by state. Through your employee handbook, employers can easily document and distribute the correct policies to their employees to comply with the laws of each state.

Creating your Rhode Island Employee Handbook is a useful way to explain important policies and procedures, mitigate legal risk, and introduce employees to the expectations and operating practices of the organization.

Mosey has compiled the relevant policies a company with employees in Rhode Island must consider.

Rhode Island Employee Handbook Policies

There are 11 state and local employee handbook policies in Rhode Island.

Wage and Hour

Rhode Island Meal Break Policy

You are entitled to a 20-minute unpaid meal break for shifts between six and eight hours, and a 30-minute unpaid meal break for shifts of eight hours or longer. Breaks are scheduled midway through the shift, and if you work during the break, it will be paid time. Meal break waivers require documentation and management approval, and working through your break requires supervisor approval with compensation.

Rhode Island Minimum Wage Policy

You are entitled to at least the state-mandated minimum wage for all hours worked, including the following: $15.00 per hour for standard wages, $3.89 per hour for tipped employees with total earnings meeting the standard minimum wage, $11.70 per hour for full-time students under 19 working in nonprofit organizations, and $9.75 per hour for minors aged 14 and 15 working up to 24 hours per week, with the standard wage applying for hours over 24.

Rhode Island Reporting-Time Pay Policy

You are entitled to at least three hours of pay at your regular rate if you report to work at the request of Employer but are relieved of duties due to a lack of work. Employer will make efforts to notify you in advance if you are not required to report, but you are still entitled to the minimum pay if you arrive despite unsuccessful notification. Reporting-time pay does not apply if you leave due to illness, personal matters, or a family emergency.

Vacation, Sick, and Safe Leaves

Rhode Island Sick and Safe Leave Policy

Employees of Employer are entitled to earn one hour of sick and safe leave for every 35 hours worked, up to a maximum of 40 hours per year. Sick and safe leave for their own illness, to care for a family member, workplace or school closures due to public health emergencies, or situations related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

Leaves of Absence

Rhode Island Family Leave Policy

In compliance with Rhode Island’s Parental and Family Medical Leave Act, you are entitled to up to 13 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave for the following reasons: the birth of your child, the adoption of a child 16 years of age or younger, or the serious illness of yourself or a family member (parent, spouse, child, mother-in-law, or father-in-law).

Rhode Island Domestic Violence Leave Policy

The Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act allows Rhode Island employees to take time off for illness, injury, medical appointments, or to address domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Employees can also assist family or household members for the same reasons. Employer with 18 or more employees must provide paid leave, while those with fewer than 18 employees must provide unpaid leave.

Rhode Island Military Service Leave Policy

Employer provides you with unpaid family military leave in accordance with the Rhode Island Military Family Relief Act.

Rhode Island Jury Duty Leave Policy

Employer provides you with unpaid time off in order to serve on jury duty.

Rhode Island Volunteer Emergency Responder Leave Policy

Employer offers unpaid leave to employees serving as volunteer emergency responders in response to emergencies.

Rhode Island School Leave Policy

Employer provides employees with up to 10 hours of unpaid leave each year to participate in activities at a child’s school or daycare.

Privacy

Rhode Island Social Media Privacy Policy

Generally, Employer is prohibited from accessing your personal social media accounts and will not discipline or terminate an employee for refusing to disclose their social media login information or for denying to provide access to their social media accounts.

Federal Employee Handbook Policies

Regardless of which states you have employees in, there are required federal policies that must be included in your employee handbook. In addition to any state-specific policies, your employee handbook for Rhode Island should contain the following federal policies.

• Anti-Harassment Policy
• Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy
• Anti-Retaliation Policy
• Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Handbook Policy Best Practices

In addition to the required federal policies, the following policies are best practices to include in your employee handbook.

• Prohibited Conduct Policy
• Violations Reporting Policy
• Workplace Violence Prevention Policy
• Weapons Policy
• Disciplinary Action Policy
• At-Will Employment
• Federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Policy