Resources for employees in New Hampshire and Federal employment laws.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD)is responsible for enforcing some of the nation’s most comprehensive federal labor laws on topics including minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, child labor, family and medical leave, migrant and seasonal worker protections, lie detector tests, worker protections in certain temporary guest worker programs, and the prevailing wages for government-funded service and construction contracts. Collectively, these laws cover most private, state, and local government employment, and protect over 143 million employees in more than 9.8 million establishments nationwide.
Overview of general employee protections:
Minimum Wage and Deductions: The federal minimum wage must be paid for all hours worked. Where a state law requires a higher minimum wage, the higher standard applies. Wages cannot be reduced below the federal minimum wage by deductions for job-related expenses such as uniforms.
Overtime and Regular Rate: Non-exempt employees must receive time and one-half the regular rate of pay after 40 hours of work in a 7-day workweek. Regular rate includes all compensation, such as non-discretionary bonuses and shift differentials. In nursing homes and residential living facilities, employers may pay overtime after 8 hours in any one day and 80 hours in a 14-day pay period.
Exemptions: Certain salaried managerial and professional employees are exempt from the minimum wage and overtime regulations, but only if they meet specific salary, duty, and/or educational requirements.
Child Labor: Federal child labor law generally prohibits the employment of minors under the age of 14, restricts the hours of work for minors under 16, and prohibits the employment of minors under the age of 18 in any hazardous occupation. Detailed information on both federal and state child labor laws is available on the internet at www.youthrules.dol.gov.
Health Care Workers: Hours worked must include pre/post shift duties, travel time during scheduled work hours from site to site, and work related to meetings and training. Bonafide meal and sleep time may be excluded from hours worked if certain conditions are met.
Employee Resources -
Linked below are many of the resources the Wage and Hour Division offers to ensure that workers understand all their rights and that they receive the wages and the protections to which they are entitled.
Wage and Hour Division Website – Overview of all employee resources.
Wage and Hour Division Local Offices –There are over 200 WHD offices throughout the country with trained professionals to help you. Find the Wage and Hour Division office closest to you.
For the New Hampshire WHD Contact the Manchester District Office at: 603-666-7716 or 1-866-487-9243.
U.S. Department of Labor
Wage and Hour Division
1155 Elm Street, Suite 501
Manchester, NH 03101
How to File a Complaint – Find printable information on how to file a complaint, gather additional information such as personal records, hours worked and details about your employer’s pay practices.
How to File a Complaint' Card (PDF)
Information available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Polish, Tagalog, Thai, Russian, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole, and Somali. Choose your language: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/workers-resources
How to File a Complaint' Flyer (PDF)
How to File a Complaint’ Flyer Spanish Version (PDF)
Research the WHD workers’ resources to find specific information regarding your industry and your individual worker's rights. Printable PDF’s are available for many unique industries, including: apparel workers, farm workers, Consular partnerships, military workers, healthcare workers, construction workers, day laborers, H-1B workers, H-2B workers, H-2A workers, federal contract workers, nail salon workers, reforestation workers, nursing mothers and workers with disabilities.
Contact your State DOL Offices – Use this link to find your State Labor Office contact.
If you live in New Hampshire and need assistance filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor and Wage Division, contact Rice Law Office, PLLC. New Hampshire Employment Attorney, Anne Rice, has been defending the rights of New Hampshire employees for over 25 years, is an active member of the New Hampshire Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section and the New Hampshire Employment Lawyer’s Association (NELA). Learn more at: https://www.ricelaw-office.com/contacts
