Sign in Book a demo
Articles

Rhode Island break, overtime and sick leave rules

Meal and rest breaks, overtime and paid sick leave in Rhode Island, in plain words. Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Not legal advice.

The rules in Rhode Island#

Meal breaks
A 20‑minute meal period within a 6‑hour shift and a 30‑minute meal period within an 8‑hour shift. Licensed health care facilities and employers with fewer than 3 employees on a shift are exempt.
Rest breaks
No general paid rest break rule for adults.
Overtime
1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. Separate laws require 1.5 times pay for Sunday and holiday work in retail and certain other businesses. No daily overtime or double time.
Paid sick leave
Employers with 18 or more employees in Rhode Island must provide at least 1 hour of paid sick and safe leave per 35 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year.

How Oh! Thyme handles Rhode Island#

Oh! Thyme runs a company in Rhode Island on the federal rules. On every shift it checks:

  • Overtime after 40 hours in a workweek, worked out week by week
  • Every punch and break, to the minute
  • Sick leave balances build from approved hours at the rate set for each person, such as 1 hour per 30 worked, stop at their cap, and come down when time off is approved.

Not checked in Rhode Island: its meal break rules. The break times are on every timesheet for a supervisor to see; tell us at support@ohthyme.com if your company needs them checked.

Try it with sample data

Sources#

  1. Rhode Island General Laws 28-57-5: Accrual of paid sick and safe leave time
  2. US DOL Wage and Hour Division: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector
  3. US DOL Wage and Hour Division: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector
  4. US DOL Wage and Hour Division: State Minimum Wage Laws (overtime premium pay notes)
PreviousPennsylvaniaNextSouth Carolina