Last session the New Hampshire Legislature enacted a new law designed to protect patients of health care facilities from the dangers associated with drug-use and drug-diverting by health care workers. RSA 151:41, which was effective August 25, 2014, requires most health care facilities and licensed providers to adopt a written drug testing policy which must
When Domestic Violence Enters the Workplace
Headlines about Ray Rice and the NFL remind us all that domestic violence does not stop at the door of an employee’s home. It is a serious crime and one that has lasting impacts on those affected by it. This post
NH Distracted Driving Law & Employer Electronic Device Policies
On July 25, 2014, Governor Hassan signed a bill into law that strictly limits the use of electronic devices, such as smart phones, while driving. The bill – HB 1360 – while intended as a public safety measure, will also affect how
Businesses Take Note — New Hampshire Has New Pay Equity Laws
Governor Maggie Hassan recently signed two bills into law that may have significant impacts on New Hampshire businesses. The first, HB 1188 , which takes effect on January 1, 2015, prohibits employers from discharging, disciplining, or otherwise discriminating against an employee because
NH Legislature Restricts Employer Access to Employee’s Personal Social Media
The New Hampshire Legislature passed HB 1407 which will prohibit employers from obtaining an employee’s personal social media account user name and password. The bill passed both the House and the Senate. The governor is expected to sign it into law.
This bill applies to both employees and prospective employees for employment. Employers found to
NH Releases Employment Discrimination Data for 2013
The New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights has released data on discrimination charges filed by employees in 2013. Last year, the Commission received 222
discrimination charges against employers. This number was slightly down from the year before at 257. Retaliation across all categories topped the list at 93 claims. Following closly behind with 89
New Hampshire Legislature Rejects Legislation Which Would Bar Criticism of Employees
The New Hampshire Legislature is hard at work addressing a variety of proposed bills which would impact the states’s workplaces, large and small. On January 28, the Senate Commerce Committee rejected on a 4 to 1 vote the first of those bills on which a recommendation was made. SB 302, entitled “An Act Relative
NH DOL’s Top 10 Labor Law Violations from 2013
The start of a new year is always a good time for employers to review their HR policies. As part of this process, employers can conduct self-audits of their wage and hour 
practices to determine compliance with the law. The NH Department of Labor just recently posted the top ten most common labor law violations
Interns Are Not Free Employees
Summer internships provide employers the valuable opportunity to evaluate individuals for potential future employment positions without having to pay wages. The internship process also has been a rewarding way for students to gain real life experience in a field of their interest. A win- win for everyone, right? Not so fast – certain requirements must
Privacy Laws Impact the Workplace
In our evolving technological world, more and more people are using social media for building both work and personal connections. This has presented a conflict in the workplace between a company’s need to protect its business interests and an employee’s concern with privacy. States have been wading into these waters with legislation limiting or prohibiting