I currently work in a clothing boutique in Rhode Island and having never worked retail before and not being from the state, I was not aware that retail employees are to receive time and one half when working on Sundays. I have been working Sundays quite freqently since I began the job in September 2007.

A little more about the job--aside from the owner, I am one of only two employees that work in the boutique. When the owner is not working, it is usually just myself. On Sundays the store is open from 12-5.

After attempting to decipher the RI state labor laws, I am almost positive that I should be receiving time and one half when I work on Sundays. If I am correct, then my question is this:

If I am to bring this up to my boss, am I entitled to receive all of the back money that I should have been getting paid all along since September?

I have not been able to come across the laws that go along with this on the Internet, so if anyone knows and can clarify for me what I should be getting that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

If the laws apply, yes you are. You may wish to contact the state Dept. of Labor first to confirm your understanding (be sure to mention the number of employees--I know that in your neighboring state of MA they have a similar law but having only 2 employees on the shift on Sunday would be an exemption from it there); I find that email often gets you a quicker response plus you then have something in writing, in understandable English, to show your boss (he may not know). If you are owed overtime and the employer refuses to pay, you can file the claim with the state DOL.

Reading the Employer's Handbook for Rhode Island (http://www.dlt.state.ri.us/lmi/publications/handbook.htm), it seems you should be paid time and a half for working on Sunday and on selected holidays, too. Interesting that, like Massachusetts, work on Sunday is voluntary except in manufacturing facilities that operate seven days a week.