New Paid Leave Law Goes into Effect July 1

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About 100,000 Rhode Island workers who previously had no opportunity to earn paid sick leave have started earning it under a new law.

The Healthy and Safe Families and Workplaces Act took effect July 1. Backed by a coalition that included AARP Rhode Island, the law requires employers with 18 or more workers to let them earn up to three days of paid sick leave this year, four next year and five starting in 2020. Part-time employees would earn less time off.

“Our volunteers made certain that lawmakers understood this helps not only workers who are ill, but caregivers who are helping a loved one after a planned surgery or injury from a fall,” said Kathleen Connell, AARP state director.

A 2017 AARP Rhode Island survey found 84 percent of registered voters 45 or older supported minimum paid sick leave for all workers. Just over half said they were caregivers or had been in the past.

For details, go to aarp.org/ricaregiving.