2026 HR Compliance Guide
Rhode Island HR Compliance Deadlines for 2026
2 verified employment law changes affecting Rhode Island employers in 2026 — with effective dates, required actions, and penalties for non-compliance. Every entry cites an official government or agency source.
Rhode Island state law changes
Rhode Island Minimum Wage Increase to $15.00/hr
Rhode Island's minimum wage increases from $14.00 to $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2026, completing the phased increase schedule enacted under recent legislation. Tipped employees' direct cash wage also increases. This brings Rhode Island in line with the $15 standard adopted by many Northeast states.
New: $15.00/hr (was $14.00/hr)
Applies to: All Rhode Island employers
What to do: Update payroll systems to $15.00/hr, adjust tipped employee minimum direct cash wages, update workplace postings, and communicate the wage increase to all affected employees.
Penalty: Back wages, treble damages, and civil penalties
Rhode Island RISavers — Implementation Deadline (100+ Employees)
Rhode Island's RISavers (Secure Choice) retirement program requires employers with 100 or more eligible employees (and no qualified retirement plan) to set up and begin facilitating RISavers — or certify exemption — by October 15, 2026. This is the first hard deadline in a phased rollout (50-99 by Oct 15, 2027; 5-49 by Oct 15, 2028). Eligible employees are auto-enrolled into a Roth IRA at 5% of after-tax wages with a 30-day opt-out.
Applies to: Rhode Island employers with 100+ eligible employees, no qualified retirement plan
What to do: Register and set up RISavers (or certify a qualifying private plan) at risavers.gov by October 15, 2026; add employees and begin payroll deductions after the 30-day opt-out window.
Penalty: After a noncompliance letter and a 30-day cure period, $250 per eligible employee (R.I. Gen. Laws § 35-23-15).
Federal deadlines that also apply
These federal requirements apply to Rhode Island employers alongside the state rules above.
Stay compliant — and turn it into recertification credits
Track every Rhode Island deadline on our free interactive compliance calendar, check how many HRCI or SHRM credits you still need with the Gap Planner, or start earning credits now with a free course.