Wage and hour rules for employees in Rhode Island — overtime, minimum wage, meal and rest breaks and the final paycheck — compared with federal law, with links to the official sources.
Rhode Island minimum wage
$16.00 per hour as of July 1, 2026 (federal: $7.25).
Federal law The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
Rhode Island meal breaks
All employees are entitled to a 20 minute mealtime within a six hour work shift, and a 30 minute mealtime within an eight hour work shift.
Coverage: Uniform application to all employees except to an employer of a licensed health care facility or an employer who employs less than three people on any shift at the worksite.
Federal law Federal law does not require meal breaks. A bona fide meal period (usually 30 minutes or more) when the employee is completely relieved from duty does not have to be paid.
Rhode Island final paycheck
Fired or laid off: On the next regular payday, at the usual place of payment. If the separation is caused by the employer liquidating, merging, disposing of or moving the business out of state, all wages are due within 24 hours. Quit: On the next regular payday, at the usual place of payment. The statute says 'separates or is separated' and does not treat quitting with or without notice differently.
Citation: R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-14-4
Federal law Federal law does not require immediate payment of final wages; they are due by the next regular payday.
Same as federal law
- Overtime
- State law also requires overtime at 1.5× the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. Coverage and exemptions can differ from federal law.
- Rest breaks
- No state requirement for paid rest breaks for adult employees in the private sector (“States not listed do not require paid rest periods” — U.S. Department of Labor). Federal law does not require breaks either; short breaks that are given must be paid.
Find your state labor department (U.S. Department of Labor directory). Data last reviewed September 28, 2026.