Rhode Island (RI) wage and hour laws are usually posted on the premises of most employers. The reason these laws exist is to help make working conditions as fair as possible for Rhode Island employees.
Rhode Island (RI) wage and hour laws have established a minimum wage for Rhode Island workers. That rate is currently set at $7.10 per hour, and is scheduled to rise to $7.40 per hour as of the year 2007. Rhode Island has one of the highest minimum hour pay rates in the United States.
Other provisions are made by Rhode Island (RI) wage and hour laws as well, which are similar to the standards set by the federal government. For instance, Rhode Island pays an overtime premium of one and a half times a Rhode Island employee’s regular rate of pay for any hours worked over 40 per week.
The one difference between U.S. laws and Rhode Island (RI) wage and hour laws is that Rhode Island also pays overtime wages to those who work more than seven days in a row. The federal government does not have this provision.
Rhode Island (RI) wage and hour laws do no longer make provisions regarding meal breaks and rest periods. Guidelines concerning this Rhode Island work issue were repealed in the year 2005. Effort is being made to reinstate those laws, but so far to no avail. For now, workers need to be aware that they are covered under the federal regulations regarding breaks and rests periods.
Short breaks, which are usually between 5 and 20 minutes in length, must be counted as hours worked. However, longer breaks, which are usually 30 minutes or more, are not required to be paid by employers. Employees must be free from all duties during unpaid breaks otherwise these breaks will need to be paid for by the employer.
Minors are the only ones according to both U.S. laws and Rhode Island (RI) wage and federal laws that are required to receive a break. They must receive a 30 minute break if they work five or more hours in a row.
Additional provisions made by Rhode Island (RI) wage and hour laws are also documented. It is important that employers and employers know about them.
Additional provisions made by Rhode Island (RI) wage and hour laws are also documented. It is important that employers and employers know about them.
