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2/12/2026
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Rep. Sanchez, Sen. Burke introduce legislation to pay health care workers overtime on Sundays and holidays
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STATE HOUSE — Rep. Enrique George Sanchez and Senate Labor and Gaming Committee Chairman John P. Burke are introducing legislation to ensure health care workers earn overtime when working on Sundays and holidays.
Currently, Rhode Island hourly workers earn time-and-half when they work Sundays and holidays, unless they work in an exempted industry, like health care.
“Some of our lowest-paid health care professionals are hourly workers who consistently work Sundays and holidays to keep patients safe and cared for, and they deserve to be compensated for their personal sacrifice and professional dedication, just like other employees in Rhode Island,” said Representative Sanchez (D-Dist. 9, Providence). “The sustainability of our health care system requires investment in its workers, because if we do not reward the commitment of these workers, we risk losing them to employers in neighboring states or other industries entirely.”
This bill (2026-H 7772) would require that all health care workers and medical direct support professionals employed in a health care facility be compensated at time-and-a-half when working on Sundays and holidays.
“Rhode Island’s health care workers have been working long, difficult hours for years to keep a system that never sleeps running smoothly for their patients,” said Chairman Burke (D-Dist. 9, West Warwick). “These workers include not only physicians and other medical providers, but medical assistants and certified nursing assistants who make far less and are typically paid by the hour. This bill ensures that these workers are properly rewarded for working Sunday and holiday shifts, which has long been common practice—and state law—for most other industries in Rhode Island. In our state’s current health care staffing crisis, it will also make these positions and these shifts more attractive and easier to fill.”
Chairman Burke will shortly introduce companion legislation in the Senate.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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