Rhode Island Legislative Update 2024: New Laws on Leave Entitlements, Minimum Wage Exemptions, and Arbitration Agreements
The Rhode Island General Assembly was active during the 2024 legislative session, passing several bills that impact employers and their business practices. Here is a summary of the new laws Rhode Island employers may need to know about. Quick Hits Workers in Rhode Island will receive up to seven weeks of paid time off to bond with a new child or care for a sick family member in 2025. That number will increase to eight weeks in 2026. Domestic workers are now eligible for minimum wage and overtime protections. Independent contractors must file an annual notice of designation under the workers’ compensation law for every entity that retains them. New bills regulate and arbitration agreements and restrictive covenants with nurses. Temporary Caregiver Insurance Leave Currently, Rhode Island’s Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) law a llows employees to take up to six weeks of job-protected leave and receive partial wage replacement from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training...