Rhode Island has passed legislation (RI H7171) increasing the maximum number of weeks employees can take under the state’s Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI) program. The maximum leave will increase from six weeks to seven weeks starting January 1, 2025, and to eight weeks beginning January 1, 2026.
Employees are eligible for TCI benefits for any week in which they are unable to perform their regular and customary work due to:
- Bonding with a newborn or a newly placed child for adoption or foster care, or
- Caring for a child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, spouse, or domestic partner with a serious health condition.
During TCI leave, employees may receive wage replacement benefits through the program.
Next Steps
Employers should review and update their TCI policies before the effective dates to ensure compliance with the new leave entitlements.
Best practices include training HR personnel, supervisors, and managers who handle leave requests. Training should address minimizing interference or retaliation claims, maintaining confidentiality, ensuring proper documentation, and accurately designating leave time.
Employers covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Rhode Island Parental and Family Medical Leave Act (RI FMLA) should note that TCI leave runs concurrently with FMLA leave when applicable. However, TCI leave must be offered to employees who do not qualify for FMLA.
HR Works Can Help
Managing employee leaves of absence is overwhelming and the many different laws can be extremely difficult to navigate, especially when leave is not your primary focus. The experts at HR Works can manage the complexities of compliance when it comes to all the changing state leave laws and more. To learn more about these services and how to leverage our compliance expertise and support, please contact us at info@hrworks-inc.com or call 1-877-219-9062.
