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New Hampshire Employment Laws

New Hampshire is an at-will employment state with protections under the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination (RSA 354-A), which covers employers with 6 or more employees. The state's minimum wage matches the federal rate of $7.25/hour. New Hampshire does not have a state-mandated paid sick leave law, but offers a voluntary Paid Family and Medical Leave insurance program. The state is not a right-to-work state — unions may negotiate collective bargaining agreements. New Hampshire restricts noncompete agreements for low-wage employees.

Last verified: 2026-02-25

Statute of Limitations

180 days (discrimination); varies for other claimsRSA 354-A:21

Complaints under the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination must be filed with the NH Commission for Human Rights within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory act. Wage claims and other statutory claims have varying deadlines.

Key New Hampshire Statutes

New Hampshire Law Against DiscriminationRSA 354-A:7

Prohibits employment discrimination based on age, sex, gender identity, race, color, marital status, physical or mental disability, religious creed, national origin, and sexual orientation. Applies to employers with 6 or more employees.

Minimum WageRSA 279:21

New Hampshire's minimum wage is tied to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. The state does not have a higher state minimum wage. Tipped employees may be paid as low as $3.27 per hour if tips bring them to the minimum wage.

Noncompete AgreementsRSA 275:70

Employers must provide a copy of any noncompete agreement to potential employees before acceptance of a job offer. Noncompete agreements are invalid and unenforceable for "low-wage" employees (those earning 200% or less of the federal minimum wage, currently $14.50/hour or less).

Paid Family and Medical Leave (Voluntary)RSA 21-I:99–107

New Hampshire's PFML program is a voluntary insurance plan (not a mandate) providing 60% wage replacement for up to 6 weeks per year for qualifying events. Employers and individuals can choose to purchase coverage. The maximum weekly benefit for 2025 is approximately $2,032.

Whistleblower ProtectionRSA 275-E

Protects employees from retaliation for reporting violations of law, refusing to perform illegal acts, or participating in investigations. Employers cannot discharge, threaten, or otherwise discriminate against whistleblowing employees.

Right to Union MembershipRSA 275:1

New Hampshire is not a right-to-work state. Employers are prohibited from requiring employees to agree not to join a labor organization as a condition of employment. Collective bargaining agreements may include union security clauses.

Official Sources

Not Legal Advice

This page summarizes publicly available statutes and rules for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by viewing this content. Laws change — always verify with the primary source or consult a licensed attorney in New Hampshire.

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