Rhode Island Family Leave Laws 2026
Last updated: · Source: Rhode Island labor department
Rhode Island · Leave Laws 2026
Federal FMLA
Applies (50+ employees)
State Leave Law
Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act
State Employer Threshold
50+
Paid Family Leave
Rhode Island Temporary Caregiver Insurance — up to $1,150/wk
Bereavement Leave
No mandatory law
FMLA in Rhode Island: Federal Leave Protections
Federal FMLA applies to every qualifying employee in Rhode Island the same way it applies nationwide: up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for employees who've worked 12+ months and at least 1,250 hours for an employer with 50+ employees within 75 miles.
Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act (RIPFMLA)
Rhode Island's Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act (RIPFMLA) extends job-protected leave to more workers than federal FMLA alone: it applies to employers with as few as 50 employees, versus the federal threshold of 50. Eligible employees can take up to 13 weeks of leave.
Eligibility test: 12 consecutive months employed while averaging at least 30 hours/week during that period — a weekly-average test, not a total-hours bank like federal's 1,250 hours. This is different from federal FMLA's 12-month + 1,250-hour test — don't assume the federal rule applies here.
RI Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI): Benefits & Pay
Rhode Island Temporary Caregiver Insurance pays eligible workers approximately 60% of their wages, up to $1,150/week, for up to 8 weeks . The program has been in effect since 2014-01-01.
Benefit is calculated as roughly 4.62% of your highest base-period quarter wages (rising to 5.38% in 2027 and 5.77% in 2028), commonly summarized as about 60% wage replacement, up to the weekly cap.
| Weeks available | 8 |
| Wage replacement | 60% (tiered) |
| Max weekly benefit | $1,150 |
| Covers bonding with a new child | Yes |
| Covers caring for a family member | Yes |
| Covers military family leave | No |
Apply through the official RI TCI site ↗ Estimate your weekly benefit →
Rhode Island Bereavement Leave: What RI Law Requires
Rhode Island has no law requiring employers to provide bereavement leave. Most employers offer 3–5 days as a matter of policy, not legal obligation — check your employee handbook for your specific employer's bereavement policy.
How RIPFMLA, TCI & FMLA Work Together
When a leave qualifies under both federal FMLA and Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act, the two run concurrently — counting against both entitlements at the same time — and the employee gets whichever protection is more generous on each specific point (employer size, weeks, covered relationships).
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Federal FMLA applies to all qualifying employees in Rhode Island at covered employers (50+ employees within 75 miles), providing up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.
Yes. Rhode Island has Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act (RIPFMLA), which applies to employers with 50+ employees and provides up to 13 weeks of leave. To qualify: 12 consecutive months employed while averaging at least 30 hours/week during that period — a weekly-average test, not a total-hours bank like federal's 1,250 hours.
Yes. Rhode Island Temporary Caregiver Insurance provides up to 8 weeks of paid leave, replacing approximately 60% of wages up to a maximum weekly benefit of $1,150.
No. Rhode Island has no law requiring bereavement leave. Any bereavement leave is provided at the employer's discretion.
When a leave qualifies under both federal FMLA and Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act, the two typically run concurrently (at the same time), and the employee receives whichever protection is more generous on each specific point, such as employer size threshold or weeks available.