Senate Bill 207-FN, effective January 1, 2015, has modified the New Hampshire Pay Equity Act. Under the new Pay Equity Act, no employer shall discriminate between employees based on sex by paying them different wage rates for performing the same work based solely on sex. Employers are also prohibited from retaliating against an employee who files a complaint about pay discrimination. Similarly, employers cannot retaliate or discriminate against an employee who participates in an investigation or more formal proceeding by testifying, assisting or otherwise participating in the matter of investigation.
Under the new Pay Equity Act, employers are prohibited from requiring employees to sign a contract or waiver that would prohibit employees from disclosing their own pay information. Employees may not be terminated, disciplined or discriminated for disclosing their own compensation or benefits information.
Any action to recover unpaid wages and liquidated damages based on violation of the act shall be commenced within three years of discovery of the violation. No action brought under this section shall include any violation that occurred more than four years prior to the commencement of such action.
Employers are required to post information on the new Pay Equity Act. Click here to purchase the updated 2015 New Hampshire Labor Law PosterTM.