Requires all health care workers who are employed on any Sunday or holiday, to be compensated at the rate of time and one-half.

RI Bill Summary: Healthcare Worker Holiday & Sunday Pay

This bill would require that all healthcare workers in Rhode Island receive extra pay — specifically, one and a half times their regular hourly rate ("time and a half") — whenever they work on a Sunday or a recognized holiday. For example, if a healthcare worker normally earns $20 per hour, they would earn $30 per hour for any hours worked on those days. Currently, this type of premium pay requirement does not automatically apply to healthcare workers in the same way it has historically applied to some other industries in Rhode Island.

This bill would affect a wide range of people who work in healthcare settings — including nurses, aides, technicians, hospital staff, and other medical workers — as well as the hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and other healthcare facilities that employ them. Workers who regularly cover weekend and holiday shifts, which are common in a field that operates around the clock, would see a direct increase in their compensation on those days.

For healthcare facilities and employers, this bill would mean higher labor costs on Sundays and holidays, which could influence how they schedule staff or manage their budgets. Supporters of similar measures often argue they help recruit and retain workers in a demanding field, while critics sometimes raise concerns about the financial impact on healthcare providers.

The bill has been introduced and referred to the Senate Labor and Gaming Committee, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken.