Following both Massachusetts and Maine, New Hampshire will prohibit non-compete agreements for employees who earn an hourly rate that is equal to or lesser than double the federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage, which NH follows, is $7.25 per hour. This means that employers cannot require employees who make $14.50 per hour or less
DOL Says Some Gig Economy Workers are Independent Contractors
In an opinion letter dated April 29, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) explained that some service providers working for a virtual marketplace company (VMC) are independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This opinion letter identifies the test the DOL is expected to use when considering the classification of workers
NH Supreme Court Rules That Worker’s Compensation Carrier May be Required to Reimburse for Medical Marijuana
On March 7, 2019 the NH Supreme Court ruled that an employee’s worker’s compensation carrier was wrong to deny reimbursement for the cost of medical marijuana to an employee recovering from a work related injury. The employee, Andrew Panaggio, suffered a lower back injury in 1991. He received a lump sum settlement for permanent impairment in 1997 and continued to experience pain as a result of the injury. He experienced negative side effects from prescribed opioids and was issued a NH cannabis registration card approving him for the use of medical marijuana in 2016. He purchased the marijuana and then sought reimbursement from the worker’s compensation carrier which denied payment stating that “medical marijuana is not reasonable/necessary or causally related” to the injury.Continue Reading NH Supreme Court Rules That Worker’s Compensation Carrier May be Required to Reimburse for Medical Marijuana
Trials of Massachusetts Company Building Keene Hotel Signals Warning to Businesses with Multi-State Workforces
On February 1, 2019 the Keene Sentinel reported that a Massachusetts construction company had been hit with more than $64,000 in fines after an audit conducted by the New Hampshire Department of Labor. Although the bulk of the fines were related to the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, there were also a number of recordkeeping violations found.
The Keene Sentinel article devotes significant attention to the problems of trying to classify individuals as independent contractors under NH state law, a very difficult burden to meet. The result of the audit and the fines imposed on the business, however, showcase how difficult it is for businesses who typically do not operate in a state to establish a workforce there and be in compliance with state laws.Continue Reading Trials of Massachusetts Company Building Keene Hotel Signals Warning to Businesses with Multi-State Workforces
Breastfeeding Case Heads to a New Hampshire Jury
According to a New Hampshire judge, “It is at least a jury question whether as plaintiff alleges, ‘public policy encourages a mother to breastfeed her child, particularly where breastfeeding is imperative for the child’s health.’” For this reason, the court denied an employer’s motion to dismiss a New Hampshire woman’s wrongful discharge case after she asked her employer to allow her to breastfeed her newborn son during the workday. Plaintiff Kate Frederick will now have her case heard before a jury in September 2019.
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What Can an Employer Do When Employees Talk About Their Pay?
Long gone are the days when employers could prohibit employees from talking about their pay with each other, including bonuses, pay raise rates and/or paid benefits and/or to fire them for doing so. It is illegal for an employer to take any such action under NH law. The rationale behind RSA 275:41-b is to attempt to level the playing field when it comes to pay inequality in the workplace.Continue Reading What Can an Employer Do When Employees Talk About Their Pay?
New Year and New Opportunity to Avoid Top Labor Law Violations! Part 2
This is part 2 of a 2 part series. To read part 1, click here.
Now that you have read the top 5 NH Labor Law Violations, keep reading – you don’t want to get caught out on the last 5!: https://www.nh.gov/labor/inspection/violation-free.htmContinue Reading New Year and New Opportunity to Avoid Top Labor Law Violations! Part 2
New Year and New Opportunity to Avoid Top Labor Law Violations! Part 1
This is part 1 of a 2 part series. To read part 2, click here.
At the end of 2017, the New Hampshire Department of Labor (DOL) published its annual list of “Top 10 New Hampshire Labor Law Violations.” While the list does not change that much from year to year, it is a good opportunity to review pay and record keeping practices to ensure compliance with NH law.Continue Reading New Year and New Opportunity to Avoid Top Labor Law Violations! Part 1
Conceal and Carry: License to Be Armed at Work?
Yesterday Governor Sununu enacted his first law allowing gun owners to carry concealed loaded guns, without a license – effective immediately.
Prior to the this law, police chiefs and local officials had discretion to decide if someone was “suitable” to carry a loaded gun concealed. Now, if a person is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a gun, he or she can carry it concealed without a license. This means that an employee, who lawfully possesses a gun, could carry it concealed in her handbag, backpack, briefcase, or jacket, for example. Some employees may view this new law as permitting them to carry loaded concealed weapons into the workplace. That is not true.
Continue Reading Conceal and Carry: License to Be Armed at Work?
New Hampshire Legislature Tees Up Workplace Laws for Debate
With all of the focus on the uncertainty of federal employment regulations, state legislatures have been hard at work on proposed legislation and have flown a bit under the radar. Now is a good time to take a look at some pending bills in New Hampshire which could impact workplaces. There are a variety of important issues being discussed.
Continue Reading New Hampshire Legislature Tees Up Workplace Laws for Debate