Note 6 - Acquisitions - Maximum Deferred Consideration Payments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Jan. 02, 2021	Dec. 28, 2019
January 1, 2022	$ 500
December 31, 2022	2,358
Estimated future contingent consideration payments	2,858
Contingent consideration paid	(345)	$ (598)
Increase to contingent payment estimates		(1,178)
Changes in fair value of contingent payments	145	61
Balance	$ 2,858	$ 3,058

The amount of other changes in contingent consideration in a business combination.

No definition available.

Name:	rcmt_BusinessCombinationsChangesInContingentConsiderationOther
Namespace Prefix:	rcmt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of increases to contingent payment estimates during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcmt_BusinessCombinationsIncreaseToContingentPaymentEstimates
Namespace Prefix:	rcmt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents estimated future contingent consideration payments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcmt_EstimatedFutureContingentConsiderationPayments
Namespace Prefix:	rcmt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents estimated future contingent consideration payments remainder of fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcmt_EstimatedFutureContingentConsiderationPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	rcmt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents estimated future contingent consideration payments in year two.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rcmt_EstimatedFutureContingentConsiderationPaymentsYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	rcmt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of liability recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120321790&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 35
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116859824&loc=d3e6819-128478

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 25
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6408-128476

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow, not made soon after acquisition date of business combination, to settle contingent consideration liability up to amount recognized at acquisition date, including, but not limited to, measurement period adjustment and less amount paid soon after acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration