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Are Rhode Islanders happy at work? Here’s a look at the stats.

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Are Rhode Islanders happy at work? Here’s a look at the stats.


Time-and-a-half on Sundays, limited post-employment drug testing, an attorney appointed to represent workers in unemployment insurance appeals, and a trailblazing temporary disability insurance program are just a few of the reasons Rhode Island comes out as one of the friendlier states for workers – but does that lead to job satisfaction?

It depends.

One firm, SelectSoftware Reviews, ranked Rhode Island as second for “happiest employees,” behind Alaska, with a calculation based on wages, quit rate, commute times, working hours, injuries, paid time off laws and “state positivity levels.”

“With a thriving job market, available PTO [paid-time-off] laws, and a modest quit rate of 2.4%, it also has the lowest injury rate of any state, with only five fatal incidents reported in the previous year,” reviewer Phil Strazzulla wrote.

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Rhode Island is, and has been, a leader in paid-time-off laws, passing the first temporary disability insurance program in the country. It was the eighth state to pass mandated paid sick leave in 2017, mandating that employers with 18 or more workers give full-time employees at least five paid sick days a year.

U.S. News & World Report puts Rhode Island as number 23 on its “employment” rankings, an evaluation of unemployment rate, job growth and labor force participation.

More: Do you like where you work? Nominate your company for a Top Workplaces award.

Other metrics by the firm rank Rhode Island much lower, including its “opportunity” index, where the state ranks 37th, ranking high for economic opportunity (16th) but low for affordability (37th) and equality (37th).

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Still, Rhode Island beats neighboring Massachusetts for “opportunity,” which has higher rankings for economic opportunity (13th) and equality (14th) but is tanked by its affordability (45th).

Is Rhode Island a good place to find a job?

The website WalletHub.com ranked Rhode Island 10th on its 2023 ranking of the best place to find a job, its job market rank (16th) being buoyed by its economic environment ranking (9th).

However, the survey noted that Rhode Island ranks near last for employment growth, 48th, just above New Jersey and Idaho, and just below New Hampshire and Connecticut.

How is Rhode Island as a place to work?

The nonprofit Oxfam has a more comprehensive ranking of the “best” places to work in the United States, putting Rhode Island at 14th overall (an increase of one spot over last year), with Oregon, California and the District of Columbia leading the rankings.

Oxfam breaks its rankings down into three policy areas: wages, worker protections and the rights to organize.

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Oxfam ranked Rhode Island 18th for wage policies (up two spots over last year), noting the increased minimum wage ($13 an hour in 2023, $14 in 2024 and set to increase to $15 in 2025), but docking it for maintaining a tipped minimum wage ($3.89) and average unemployment benefits which, according to Oxfam, only supply 15% of the money needed to cover the cost of living.

Rhode Island is also docked for not allowing municipalities to set a minimum wage above the state standards.

Rhode Island ranks 12th for worker protection policies.

Notable are the protections Rhode Island is lacking, which include:

  • Paid breaks to pump for breastfeeding workers.
  • Flexible scheduling of worker shifts.
  • Split-shift pay regulation.
  • Advanced notice of shift scheduling.
  • No protections for domestic workers (including no minimum wage).
  • No heat safety standards for outdoor workers.

Rhode Island ranks 14th for its right to organize laws, only being docked for not protecting workers against wage theft retaliation.

In the last legislative session, wage theft by employers went from being a misdemeanor to a felony, a charge led by Attorney General Peter Neronha.

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What laws are worker friendly in Rhode Island?

The entire Northeast tends to be more worker friendly than much of the rest of the country and Rhode Island is no exception, said labor attorney Matthew Parker of Whelan Corrente & Flanders LLP.

The three lawyers interviewed for this story all keyed in on one major worker benefit, and innovation, where Rhode Island is leading the way: its temporary disability insurance program and, more recently, the temporary caregiver insurance program.

The temporary disability insurance program in Rhode Island was the first of its kind in the country, established in 1942. It funds partially paid medical leave for workers dealing with non-work-related injuries and illness. While Rhode Island was the trailblazer, the rest of the country never got on board. To date, only New York, New Jersey, California, Hawaii and Puerto Rico have followed Rhode Island’s lead.

“It’s an amazing benefit to our workforce,” labor lawyer Richard Sinapi of Sinapi Law Associates said. “I cannot tell you how many families have been saved from the brink of bankruptcy.”

Sinapi said the one problem with the program is that it does not apply to state workers. While some have union benefits or other insurance, nothing stacks up to the “amazing, efficient and well-run” program that is a lifesaver to so many families.”

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More: Marijuana is legal in RI. What does it mean for drug tests, employers and employees?

The Temporary Caregiver Insurance program, passed in 2013, extended the idea to caregivers, giving workers up to six weeks of benefits to care for a seriously ill child, partner, parent, parent-in-law or grandparent, or to bond with a newborn child, newly adopted child or new foster child.

Sean Fontes, a lawyer with Partridge Snow & Hahn, a law firm representing businesses, and former executive counsel for the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, said Massachusetts is often considered more worker friendly than Rhode Island, yet it only passed its own temporary caregiver insurance law in 2018.

Other places where Rhode Island excels for worker protections are:

  • Paying an attorney to represent those seeking unemployment benefits during the appeals process.
  • Robust protections for drug testing after someone has started work.
  • Paid sick leave.
  • Mandated time-and-a-half on Sundays for most hourly workers, as Sundays are classified as “holidays.”
  • Employers can’t require non-disclosure agreements that prevent reporting of certain bad actions, including civil rights violations.
  • Wage theft is a felony.

Do you like where you work? Let us know

For the first time, The Providence Journal will honor quality workplace culture in Rhode Island. Any organization with 35 or more employees in the state is eligible to earn Top Workplaces recognition.  

The nomination deadline is March 22. Anyone can nominate any organization, whether it is public, private, nonprofit, a school or even a government agency. To nominate an employer or get more information on the awards, go to providencejournal.com/nominate or call (401) 226-0749. 

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Rhode Island

Providence man arrested in connection to narcotics and firearms investigation | ABC6

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Providence man arrested in connection to narcotics and firearms investigation | ABC6


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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island State Police said a Providence man was arrested after police allegedly discovered multiple narcotics and a gun inside two residences on Sept. 23.

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47-year-old Joel Garcia was charged with possession with the intent to deliver over 1 kilogram of fentanyl, possession with the intent to deliver over 1 kilogram of cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver one ounce to one kilogram of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to deliver fentanyl, possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession of a firearm while committing a controlled substance violation, unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and distribution of a controlled substance in a school zone.

According to RISP, police received court-authorized search warrants for two residences in Providence in connection to a narcotics and firearms investigation.

Inside an apartment on Dresser Street, police allegedly seized 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.3 kilograms of cocaine, and 147 grams of methamphetamine.

Police also searched Garcia’s residence on Portland Street and allegedly seized one fully loaded pistol.

According to police, Garcia had allegedly used the apartment on Dresser Street to “store, package, and distribute large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.”

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Garcia was arrested and charged.

RISP, Providence police, Cranston police, North Providence police, Johnston police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Rhode Island National Guard Counterdrug Program assisted in the investigation.





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The Ocean State’s Bond With Robert Redford

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The Ocean State’s Bond With Robert Redford


Millions have been mourning the death of a cinematic icon over the last week with the passing of Robert Redford at age 89.

The award-winning actor is arguably one of the most famous of all time. With over 70 films to his credit on screen and nine he directed throughout his career, Redford’s work in cinema stands out as some of the greatest.

Though only two of Redford’s movies were ever filmed in Rhode Island, the Oscar-winning actor has a deep connection with the Ocean State.

Redford’s Family Roots Near Rhode Island

Though no Redfords actually lived in Rhode Island, Robert’s family was longtime residents of Stonington, CT and several members were born in nearby Westerly, RI.

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READ MORE: ‘Sopranos’ Star Officially Becomes a Rhode Island Resident

Throughout Robert Redford’s childhood there were visits to his grandparents in Stonington, where his grandfather worked as a milkman.

Presumably this time in Stonington meant crossing the state line into Westerly on more than one occasion in his youth and perhaps led to his love of the Rhode Island seaside in later years.

Filming The Great Gatsby in Newport

During his career, Redford came to Newport in the 1970s to film The Great Gatsby at the historic Rosecliff Mansion. Decades later he returned to Rhode Island with the science fiction film The Discovery and even wrote a thank you letter to Newport,  praising their preservation efforts in the city.

READ MORE: HGTV Says You Need to Drive This Road in Newport

Though when he did ultimately settle in New England, Redford chose Weston, CT as his home for almost two decades. He purchased a home not too far from his close friend and fellow actor, Paul Newman.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

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Rhode Island Honors Robert Redford

Rhode Island never forgot its ties to the beloved actor however. In 2002 Redford was asked to be the commencement speaker at Brown University and that same year Trinity Repertory Company awarded him a Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.

Just one of the many lifetime achievement awards Robert Redford would go on to accumulate during his illustrious career.

20 Stars Who Hail From Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation, but it has been home to many celebrities. Though some have moved here, filmed here or attended school here, only a handful were actually born here. These are those celebrities.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall

Academy Award and Golden Globe Winners from Massachusetts

These Massachusetts natives have taken home some of Hollywood’s top honors.

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Gallery Credit: Michaela Johnson

30 Things To Do in Newport Any Time of Year

Newport has always been seen as a summer destination. Wealthy New Yorkers used to escape the city in the hotter months for this picturesque seaside spot and the label as a summer vacation destination began.

There are, however, plenty of things to do in this historic town in any season and we’ve found a few that you may want to try the next time you head to Newport.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall





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GoLocalProv | Sports | VIDEO: Providence’s Lassiter Scores 44-Yard TD in Vanderbilt’s Upset Over #11 South Carolina

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GoLocalProv | Sports | VIDEO: Providence’s Lassiter Scores 44-Yard TD in Vanderbilt’s Upset Over #11 South Carolina


Sunday, September 14, 2025

 

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Zell Lassiter
PHOTO: Via Vanderbilt

Providence’s Jamezell Lassiter had a big play on a huge stage on Saturday when Vanderbilt football upset #11 South Carolina. SEE 7:25 MARK.

Lassiter, who played for the Edgewood Eagles and the Mount Hope Cowboys and attended the San Miguel School in Providence, smoked the Gamecocks on a 44-yard touchdown score.

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Vanderbilt won 31-7 over No. 11 South Carolina, snapping a 16-game losing streak between the two programs. 

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Zell Lassiter PHOTO: Vanderbilt Athletics

In 2024, GoLocal sports columnist Robert McMahon wrote about Lassiter’s journey to the top Division I program:

His athletic skills impressed his San Miguel classmates. Flag football, soccer, basketball—Jamezell could do it all. He was a natural athlete.

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But the transformation of Zell, as he likes to be called, happened in the San Miguel classroom. 

READ MORE HERE

 

 

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