Rhode Island Parental & Family Medical Leave Act

The Rhode Island Family Medical Leave law allows for 13 weeks of unpaid leave.  Women may qualify for partial pay during maternity leave with RI temporary disability.  

The law when combined with the Federal act may provide for unpaid job-protected leave for differing population segments. The two laws works differently in terms of who is covered, and how the laws work.  What you will find on this page:

* Who is covered
* Key Provisions
* RI Family Leave and the Federal law (FMLA)
* Affording all the time off from work

The Rhode Island Family Medical Leave Act (RIFMLA) allows for 13 weeks of unpaid leave over a 24 month period. The employee must have worked for the employer for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the leave, and must have averaged 30 hours of work over that time.

The Rhode Island Family Leave applies to employers as follows:

* Private employees - with 50 or more employees worldwide
* State of Rhode Island - all offices
* City, Town, or Municipal - with 30 or more employees

Your employer must continue any employer-provided health benefits, including dental, vision, and other benefits. You may be required to pay your portion of the premiums. These contributions will now be AFTER TAX, costing you more out of pocket that while you are working.

You have a right to re-instatement to previous position or one that is equivalent in terms of benefits, pay, and other conditions of employment.

Source: RI Department of Labor and Training - Labor Standards Division

The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law, whereas the Rhode Island Act applies to RI workers only. The two laws are very similar leaving this writer to wonder why have a separate state law if it does not provide additional protection for it's citizens?

The RI law does provide an additional week of leave (13 vs. 12), and lowers the employment size for city, town, and municipalities. But other that that the two laws seem quite similar - at least as it relates to pregnancy and maternity related issues.

Check back again in the future, perhaps we will find something significant soon.

Rhode Island provides for unpaid leave for all workers, and has mandated short term disability coverage which provides a level of partial income replacement relating to you own disability.

If you are planning a pregnancy consider purchasing short term disability insurance before getting pregnant.  Your benefit for normal delivery may greatly exceed the premium paid, helping to create maternity leave income and providing a financial cushion to allow you to bond with your baby without worrying about how to pay bills.