Rhode Island Employment Law 2026 Update

 The following changes to Rhode Island employment law take effect on January 1, 2026, and apply to employers of all sizes.

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

The state’s minimum wage will increase to $16 per hour. The minimum base wage for tipped employees will remain at $3.89 per hour.

NEW HIRE NOTICE

Employers will be required to provide new hires with a written notice of the following information:

• Pay rate(s) and pay basis, including, but not limited to, whether the employee is paid by the hour, salary, piece rate, or commission

• Any allowances claimed for meals and lodging

  
  

• Employer’s policy on sick, vacation, personal leave, holidays, and hours

  
  

• Employee’s employment status and whether they’re exempt or nonexempt

  
  

• Deductions that can be made from employee’s pay

  
  

• Number of days in the pay period, regularly scheduled paydays, and the employee’s first payday

  
  

• Employer’s legal name, operating name (if different), main physical address, mailing address (if different), and telephone number

The notice needs to be acknowledged with the employee’s signature and a copy kept on file.

TCI COVERAGE EXPANDS

Employees will be able to use Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) for two new reasons:

• To care for a sibling who has a serious health condition

• For bone marrow and living organ donation (retroactive to January 1, 2025)

As a reminder, also on January 1, TCI benefits will increase up to a maximum of eight weeks in a benefit year.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRAINING FOR HOTEL EMPLOYEES

Hotel employees will be required to complete human trafficking awareness training within 180 days of hire, and each calendar year thereafter. The training will need to include specific components and be approved by the state. Records of employee training need to be kept for the duration of employment, plus one year.

Hotels will also be required to create a policy for reporting suspected human trafficking to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or local law enforcement.