Durham, NH Employment Law Attorneys

Work Shouldn’t Feel Like a Threat, Let Us Help You Take It Back.

You’re clocking in for another shift near Madbury Road or passing the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Memorial Union Building on your way to work. You’ve always pulled your weight, even when the job wasn’t perfect.

Then suddenly, the atmosphere shifts. You ask for time off under doctor’s orders, or you report an issue. Before you know it, your hours disappear. Conversations turn cold. Your name ends up on a write-up for something that never mattered before.

When your job starts to mess with your mental health, it’s more than just a work issue. It can wreck your confidence, throw off your routine, and leave you wondering if you're the problem, even when you're not.

Our Durham employment law attorneys at Horn Wright, LLP, are here for workers who feel like something changed overnight and not in a good way. We’ve taken on employers across Strafford County, from the university system to private companies.

We listen. We believe you. And our New Hampshire law firm is ready to make sure your story gets the attention, and protection, it deserves.

Employment Laws Aren’t Optional, But Some Employers Act Like They Are

Your job at a shop on Main Street or a lab at UNH might look legit on the surface. But what happens behind the scenes tells the real story. If your employer isn’t upfront about your rights, you’re not alone.

In New Hampshire, you're legally protected, even if no one hands you a booklet explaining it. And that matters whether you’re helping patients at Wentworth-Douglass Express Care or working at the Durham Public Library.

Here’s what you’re entitled to:

• A workplace where you're safe from harassment and identity-based mistreatment. Discrimination isn't always loud, but it always matters. You have a right to speak up and expect a professional response.
• The right to be paid for all hours worked. This includes tasks before and after your shift, like setting up for an event at the Whittemore Center Arena or cleaning up after closing at a café. If you’re working, you should be earning.
• Job protection when you take legitimate leave. If you’re recovering from surgery or caring for a loved one, your job shouldn’t be used as leverage. Employers can’t use time off against you just because it’s inconvenient for them.

A lot of people think “at-will” means your boss can fire you for anything. But the law makes it clear: there are boundaries and crossing them has consequences.

If something doesn’t sit right at work, pay attention to that feeling. Trusting your instincts is often the first step toward protecting your rights.

Fired Without Warning? That’s Not Just Unfair. It Might Be Illegal.

You do what you're supposed to. Show up. Stay late. Do the job right. Then suddenly, you're out.

Maybe it’s after a complaint about safety protocols. Or after returning from medical leave following treatment at UNH Health & Wellness. Whatever the reason, something about it doesn’t sit right, and that’s for a reason.

We’ve helped workers in Durham who’ve faced real injustice. A maintenance worker let go from a UNH dorm after reporting mold. A preschool assistant fired days after revealing a disability. A server on Main Street terminated just after refusing to ignore health code violations.

Wrongful termination comes in many forms:

• Discrimination masked as poor “fit” or sudden layoffs. If you're let go but others with less experience remain, bias may be the real reason and it’s illegal. Unequal treatment often hides behind vague excuses.
• Broken promises, even without a contract. Verbal agreements, employee handbooks, and past patterns of job security can hold legal weight. If you relied on those assurances, you may still have legal standing.
• Being fired as punishment for speaking up. Reporting unsafe work conditions or illegal practices shouldn’t cost you your job. It’s illegal when employers retaliate just to keep quiet.

No matter where you work—retail at Mill Plaza, facilities at Town Hall, or a local restaurant—employers must follow through on the protections the law provides.

When Discrimination Hides in Plain Sight. Speak Up.

We wish discrimination were a thing of the past. But right here in Durham, it still shows up. Subtle at times, overt at others.

It’s the shift that always goes to someone else. The jokes that land on you every time. The opportunity that vanishes when you mention needing accommodation.

We’ve worked with UNH staff, part-time workers at Town Offices, and even temp workers on Route 108 who’ve dealt with bias they didn’t know how to name but definitely felt.

You’re protected under the law from discrimination based on:

• Sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Offensive jokes, slurs, and exclusion all count. You shouldn't have to minimize yourself to keep your job.
• Age, religion, or disability. Employers must make space for your needs, whether that means a flexible schedule for worship or accommodations after a diagnosis. These factors can’t legally be used to limit your role or advancement.
• Race or ethnicity. That includes being consistently passed over, ignored in meetings, or given less favorable schedules. Everyone deserves fair opportunities to succeed.

Bias is harmful whether it’s subtle or blatant. If your identity’s been used against you, it’s time to talk about it with someone who knows how to help.

Harassment Isn’t Just an HR Problem: It’s a Legal One

Harassment builds slowly. First it’s a comment. Then a stare. Then it’s constant messages when you're off the clock. And before long, it feels like you can’t escape, even in places that are supposed to be safe.

Maybe it's a coworker who keeps pushing boundaries at a local store. Maybe it's a manager at UNH who won’t stop sending “jokes.” The details vary, but the outcome is always the same: it messes with your well-being.

Here’s how to protect yourself and take back control:

• Ask for legal guidance. You don’t have to wait for it to get worse. Even a short consultation with employment law attorneys can clarify your next steps.
• Write everything down. Include who, what, when, and where. You’ll be glad to have the paper trail if things escalate.
• Tell someone in writing. Verbal reports can disappear. Written complaints create accountability that’s hard to ignore.

Harassment shouldn’t be a workplace norm. Whether it happens behind closed doors or out in the open, you have every right to say “enough.”

If They’re Keeping Your Money, That’s Theft — Plain and Simple

Wage theft isn’t just something you read about online. It happens across Durham—especially in hospitality, cleaning services, and on-campus jobs.

Maybe you’re clocking out at a shop near Pettee Brook Lane, only to keep working. Maybe your boss says you’re salaried and not owed overtime, even though you’re working 50 hours a week. Or maybe your tips never make it into your paycheck.

You have clear rights under the law:

• Final paychecks must come fast and in full. If you're let go, your wages are due within 72 hours. Any delay or deduction must be explained and justified under the law.
• Overtime kicks in after 40 hours, unless you're legally exempt. Just being salaried doesn’t make you exempt. Specific job duties must match exemption criteria exactly.
• Every single minute you work must be paid. That includes side tasks, cleaning duties, and anything required before or after shifts. Unpaid labor is illegal, even if the employer says it's “just part of the job.”

If your employer’s cutting corners with your pay, we’ll help you cut through the lies and get what’s rightfully yours.

Taking Care of Yourself Shouldn’t Cost You Your Job

You’re dealing with something big, maybe a diagnosis from Wentworth-Douglass Hospital or caregiving responsibilities for a family member across the river in Newmarket. Life doesn’t pause just because you’ve got a shift.

And it shouldn’t have to.

Under state and federal laws, including Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you’re allowed to:

• Request modified tasks or hours if you’re recovering. A doctor’s note goes a long way, but your request still deserves serious consideration. Employers must explore reasonable accommodations in good faith.
• Ask for flexibility without fear. That could mean working from home part-time or getting extra breaks for treatment. These adjustments are not favors. They’re often legal requirements.
• Take protected leave for family or health needs. This includes both physical and mental health conditions. You can’t be fired or punished for using that time.

We’ve seen too many workers in Durham get pushed out for asking for help. The law is clear: supporting your health should never be punished.

If Things Changed After You Spoke Up, That’s Retaliation

You did the right thing. You made a report, helped a colleague, or filed a claim. And now the energy at work has changed completely.

Fewer shifts. Petty write-ups. A manager who suddenly seems out to get you. These aren’t coincidences. They’re retaliation.

It’s illegal for your employer to punish you for:

• Reporting unlawful or unsafe behavior. The law backs you up when you refuse to stay silent. Your right to speak out doesn’t end when your shift does.
• Helping with or filing a workplace complaint. Even if the issue wasn’t about you, standing up for what’s right shouldn’t backfire. The law sees through thinly veiled punishment.
• Taking approved leave. You’re protected before, during, and after that time off. Job changes tied to your leave often point to illegal retaliation.

We’ve stood by Durham workers, from restaurant staff on Main Street to school employees at Oyster River, who knew something felt off. If this sounds familiar, our legal professionals are ready to stand by you too.

Horn Wright, LLP: Your Legal Team When Your Job Turns Against You

We’ve supported workers in Durham from every background—UNH researchers, store clerks, food service employees, and healthcare techs alike. 

When your employer turns a blind eye or crosses a legal line, one of the most respected law firms in the country help you take your power back.

Our employment law attorneys at Horn Wright, LLP, don’t just understand the law. We live it, right here in New Hampshire. We’ll hear your story, explain your rights clearly, and take smart, decisive action to protect your future.

Call (603) 716-9415 today to arrange a free and zero-pressure consultation. Your voice matters. Let’s make sure it’s heard.