Rhode Island Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act
Under RI Gen. Laws § 28-57, covered employees accrue one hour of paid sick and safe leave for every 35 hours worked. Accrual begins on the first day of employment and continues throughout the year.
Basic formula
Employer-size caps
The annual cap depends on employer size. Employers with 18 or more employees allow up to 40 hours per year. Employers with fewer than 18 employees apply a 40-hour cap. A more generous policy may exceed these limits.
When can leave be used?
Accrued leave may first be taken on the 90th calendar day of employment. Hours continue accruing during the waiting period; the balance shown here may not yet be legally available.
Carryover and year-end balance
Up to 40 hours of unused paid sick and safe leave carries forward to the next year under the statewide minimum. Employers may allow more generous carryover.
Leave payout at separation
Rhode Island law does not require payout of unused paid sick and safe leave at separation. Unused leave is forfeited when employment ends unless a written employer policy provides otherwise.
What this calculator does not determine
- Whether your employer has 18 or more employees (determining paid versus unpaid leave).
- Whether an employer uses a compliant frontloading arrangement instead of per-hour accrual.
- Whether a specific absence qualifies as an authorized use under RI Gen. Laws § 28-57.
- Whether a local ordinance (Providence) provides greater benefits.
- How fractional hours are tracked or rounded on payroll records.
Worked examples
Example 1: employer with 18 or more employees, 1,050 hours worked
Example 2: full year of full-time work, cap applies
Sources and verification
The accrual ratio (1 per 35 hours), 40-hour annual cap, 90-day waiting period, and 18-employee coverage threshold are sourced from RI Gen. Laws § 28-57 and the Rhode Island DLT Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act page, verified August 2026. See the site's methodology for how rules become tested calculator logic.