This is the state agency established by New Hampshire law for the purpose of eliminating discrimination in employment, as well as other settings, because of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability or national origin. The Human Rights Commission receives complaints of discrimination and investigates illegal discrimination
What Are The Categories Of Illegal Discrimination In Employment?
A person may be subject to unlawful discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, creed (religion) color, marital status, physical or mental disability, national origin or sexual orientation.
What Is The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission?
The EEOC is the federal agency that handles employment discrimination claims.
Does My Employer Have To Give Me A Reason For Firing Me?
Under New Hampshire law, an employer does not have to give a reason for terminating an employee.
What is At-Will Employment?
Under New Hampshire law, most employees are considered “at-will” employees. An at-will employee can be terminated for any reason or no reason as long as the termination is not based on an illegal or discriminatory reason.
Please go to Wrongful Termination for more information.
What Is A Whistleblower’s Claim?
Under New Hampshire law, an employee may file a Whistleblower’s Complaint with the New Hampshire Department of Labor. Depending on the circumstances of the termination, a Whistleblower’s Complaint may be based on an employee reporting a violation of a law or a rule.
Please go to Whistleblower Complaint for more information.
I Am Pregnant. Do I Have Any Protection Under The Law?
An employer may not discriminate against someone for pregnancy-related conditions. However, an employer may require its employee to submit a doctor’s statement concerning their inability to work before granting leave or paying sick benefits. Discrimination on the basis of any pregnancy-related condition constitutes unlawful sex discrimination.
Please go to Pregnancy Discrimination for more information.
What Is The Family Medical Leave Act?
This is a federal law that allows anyone who works in a company of fifty (50) or more employees to take up to twelve (12) weeks of medical leave a year. In order to qualify for the Family medical Leave Act, an employee must meet certain requirements that are set forth in the law. Some of these requirements include that to be an eligible employee, you must have worked for the employer for at least twelve (12) month and one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) hour in the year preceding the request for leave.
Please go to Family Medical Leave Act for more information.
What Damages Can I Get In A Wrongful Termination Case?
Under New Hampshire law, you are entitled to receive damages for any lost wages (back or front pay), lost benefits (examples include insurance coverage, 401(k) contributions), emotional distress damages as well as any other expenses incurred as a result of your termination (such as counseling or medical bills).
I Believe My Employer Is Discriminating Against Me, Do I Have A Claim?
Discrimination is only illegal if it is because you belong to a legally-protected category. These protective categories include age, sex, sexual orientation, race, creed (religion), color, marital status, physical or mental disability or national origin as well as veteran/military status.
Please go to Employment Law areas for more information.
Should I Have An Attorney Review The Severance Package I Was Offered Before I Sign It?
Yes. As a part of the severance package, your former employer is requiring you to sign away or waive certain rights you have in order to receive the severance benefits being offered. The most important right or protection you are waiving is your ability to sue or file a lawsuit against your former employer. Other common components of a severance agreement include a confidentiality agreement.
Because you are waiving rights and protections, it is important to have a severance agreement reviewed by an experienced employment lawyer.
Please go to Severance Agreements for more information.
Do I Need To Hire An Employment Lawyer?
Yes. Employers and their insurance companies have experienced lawyers on their side. Because of the different laws protecting employees’ rights, it is important to have an experienced employment lawyer represent you. Having a skilled and experienced lawyer representing you will level the playing field against your former employer. Many victims of illegal employment make the mistake of not consulting with an experienced employment lawyer. An employment lawyer can explain to you your rights, whether you have an employment case and, if so, what damages you may be entitled to receive under the law.
Our guide, How to Choose an Employment Lawyer, provides answers to questions you may have about hiring the right lawyer for your employment law case.
Why Should I Hire Douglas, Leonard & Garvey, P.C. as My Employment Lawyers?
Many lawyers claim to have employment law experience. Also, many lawyers try to have it both ways and represent employers and employees. Our loyalty I simple – we represent employees.
Our employment lawyers regularly represent clients at the EEOC and New Hampshire Human Rights Commission as well as try cases to juries in Superior Court. Please contact us for an immediate, free consultation at 1-800-240-1988 or complete our contact form online.
