New Hampshire Worker Rights
New Hampshire follows the federal minimum wage but has state rules on meal breaks and final pay, and requires OSHA 10 on some public projects.
- New Hampshire
Pay
- Minimum wage: $7.25, the same as federal.
- Overtime: 1.5x over 40 hours a week.
- Final pay: within 72 hours if you’re fired; by the next regular payday if you quit.
- OSHA 10: required for workers on public construction projects above a set dollar amount.
Breaks and leave
- Breaks: a 30-minute meal break after 5 consecutive hours, unless you can eat while working and the employer allows it.
- Paid family leave: a voluntary state program (Granite State Paid Family Leave) that some employers offer and individuals can buy into.
Unions and right-to-work
New Hampshire is not a right-to-work state, so a union contract can require covered workers to pay at least a fee for representation. Private-sector workers have the right to organize under federal law. See Your Right to Organize.
Where to file
- Unpaid wages and overtime: New Hampshire Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
- Discrimination and harassment: New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights, or the U.S. EEOC.
- Safety: Federal OSHA covers private employers. See Federal OSHA States.
- Work injuries: report the injury to your employer right away, in writing, and follow up with New Hampshire’s workers’ compensation agency. See Workers’ Compensation.
Check current rules: this is a summary. Wage rates and labor laws change often, usually on January 1 or July 1, and cities and counties can add their own rules. Confirm details with the New Hampshire Department of Labor before acting. Federal protections apply too. See Where to Get Help.
Standards & references
Last updated: