Portsmouth, NH Employment Law Attorneys

Your Shield Against Workplace Injustice

When you’re treated unfairly at work, the stress can follow you home. It shows up in your sleep, your conversations, even in the way you carry yourself through the streets of Portsmouth. 

Whether you're walking past Market Square or grabbing lunch near the North Church, the weight of workplace injustice can feel impossible to shake. You might feel embarrassed, powerless, or angry—maybe all three. 

You're not alone. Many people across Portsmouth are dealing with unfair treatment at work, and the emotional toll is real.

Our Portsmouth employment law attorneys at Horn Wright, LLP, understand how deeply employment problems can affect every part of your life. We know this town inside and out, from the family-owned shops along Bow Street to the fast-moving companies at Pease International Tradeport. 

We bring both fierce advocacy and real compassion to the table, because we know this isn’t just about the law. It’s about your life. If your rights have been violated at work, our New Hampshire law firm is ready to stand by you.

Know Your Rights, Because No Job in Portsmouth Is Worth Losing Your Dignity

Every employee in Portsmouth, whether you're ringing up sales at a boutique downtown, repairing boats at the harbor, or coding at a tech firm in Pease, has rights. These aren't just abstract legal protections; they matter every single day you clock in.

Here are a few of the most essential rights New Hampshire law guarantees:

• Fair Pay: You’re entitled to at least the state minimum wage and overtime pay for extra hours. If you’re working more than 40 hours a week, that additional time needs to show up in your paycheck. Employers can’t ignore these rules just because you’re salaried or “part-time.”
• Safe Conditions: Your employer must provide a workplace free from dangerous conditions. Whether you're in a warehouse near Islington Street or behind a register on Lafayette Road, your safety comes first. If you’re exposed to hazards, you have the right to speak up, without fear.
• Freedom from Discrimination: You can’t be mistreated because of your race, gender, religion, disability, age, or other protected characteristics. Employers can’t use stereotypes to deny promotions, assignments, or fair treatment. These protections apply from your first interview to your final paycheck.

In Portsmouth, these rights often come under pressure in certain industries. Think about a restaurant along Bow Street asking servers to share tips improperly. Or a maritime repair worker not getting proper breaks during long shifts. Or a startup company overlooking harassment complaints. In each of these cases, the law stands with you.

Fired for Doing the Right Thing? That’s Not Just Wrong. It’s Illegal.

Being fired unfairly hits hard. And in a close-knit town like Portsmouth, word travels fast. That embarrassment, combined with financial fear, can make the situation feel unbearable.

Under New Hampshire law, employers can generally fire workers "at will"—but not for illegal reasons. If your firing involved discrimination, retaliation, or a breach of your employment agreement, it might be wrongful termination.

Picture this: You work at a cozy café along State Street and speak up about unsafe kitchen conditions. Two weeks later, you’re let go without warning. Or maybe you’re a developer at a Pease Tradeport startup who took protected family leave—and found your desk cleared out when you returned. These aren’t just coincidences. They're red flags.

Wrongful termination can shake your trust in the system. Our employment law attorneys are here to help restore that trust and demand accountability.

Harassed at Work in Portsmouth? You’re Not Being “Too Sensitive.” You’re Being Targeted.

Nobody should dread going to work. But when you’re being treated differently, or worse, targeted, because of who you are, that dread can take over your life.

Discrimination happens when employers make decisions based on things that shouldn’t matter: your race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, or disability. Harassment is when those biases turn into hostile actions, like offensive jokes, inappropriate comments, or physical intimidation.

In Portsmouth, these issues often arise in:

• Hospitality and service jobs: Think about a hostess repeatedly being propositioned by a manager on Congress Street.
• Retail environments: Imagine a clerk passed over for promotions because she’s pregnant.
• Fast-paced restaurants: Picture a dishwasher mocked daily for his accent.

If this sounds familiar, document everything. Dates, witnesses, and details matter. Reporting harassment takes courage. Doing so is the first step to changing things, not just for yourself but for others, too.

Working Overtime Without Pay? Missing Tips? That’s Theft. Plain and Simple.

You show up early. Stay late. Work through busy weekends. But somehow, your paycheck still doesn't match the hours you put in. 

New Hampshire has clear wage and hour laws, yet some Portsmouth employers still try to bend the rules. Common violations we see include:

• Tip Pooling Abuse: Servers in downtown spots being forced to share tips with management. That’s not just unfair. It’s illegal under both state and federal law. Tips are for the workers who earn them, not for owners or supervisors.
• Overtime Theft: Retail workers staying late during summer rushes and not seeing the extra pay. Just because the register is busy doesn’t give your employer a pass to cut corners. If you're working more, you should be paid more. Simple as that.
• Misclassification: Tech employees treated as independent contractors to avoid overtime and benefits. This tactic often robs you of healthcare, retirement options, and job protections. If you're being told you’re a contractor but treated like staff, something's off.

These practices devalue your time and violate your rights. You work hard. You deserve every dollar you earn.

Told to Stay Quiet? Portsmouth Protects Whistleblowers Who Speak Out

Calling out wrongdoing is brave. It also puts a target on your back if you don’t have the right protection. That’s why whistleblower laws in New Hampshire exist: to shield people like you.

Whether you report a safety violation at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, flag improper waste disposal near the Piscataqua River, or raise concerns about data privacy in a Pease Tradeport startup, your voice matters. And it must be protected.

Retaliation—like demotion, harassment, or sudden termination—is illegal. Speaking up should lead to change, not punishment. If you're worried about retaliation, keep detailed records and consider legal advice early. 

Need Time to Care for Family or Heal? Don’t Let Your Boss Use That Against You.

Life doesn’t stop for work. Sometimes, you need time off to care for a new baby, recover from an illness, or look after a loved one. That’s where family and medical leave laws step in.

Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and New Hampshire's laws, eligible workers in Portsmouth can take unpaid, job-protected leave for qualified reasons. Still, some employers try to cut corners.

Imagine you’re a nurse at a Portsmouth health clinic who needs time to care for your sick parent. Or an engineer at a Pease-based firm welcoming your first child. You request leave and suddenly face pushback—comments about "not pulling your weight" or threats about your position.

These responses aren't just inappropriate; they may be illegal. Your job shouldn’t come at the expense of your health or family.

They Cut Your Hours After You Spoke Up? That’s Retaliation and It’s Not Okay.

Retaliation doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s subtle. A shift cut here, a responsibility taken away there. But it always hurts. And it’s always wrong.

If you speak up about discrimination, file a complaint, or assert your legal rights, your employer can’t punish you for it. Period.

In Portsmouth, we've seen retaliation hit hardest in sectors like:

• Healthcare: A nurse flagged unsafe staffing ratios, then found herself scheduled for the least desirable shifts.
• Retail: A cashier who questioned wage discrepancies suddenly got written up for minor infractions.
• Hospitality: A bartender at a waterfront pub who complained about harassment found their hours slashed.

Retaliation isn’t just unethical. It’s unlawful. And you have the power to push back.

Ready to Speak Up? Here’s How to File a Complaint and Get Your Power Back

Filing a complaint can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already under pressure. But the process is more manageable than you might think. You just need the right steps.

Here’s a simplified guide:

1. Identify the issue clearly. What happened, when, and who was involved? Clarity helps build a stronger complaint and sets the groundwork for any investigation. Keep your statement factual but detailed enough to show the full impact.
2. Document everything. Save emails, texts, schedules, pay stubs—whatever supports your claim. Even informal communications, like Slack messages or handwritten notes, can help. The more evidence you have, the better your case stands.
3. File with the right agency. Most employment issues in Portsmouth go through:
   1. The New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights (for discrimination or harassment). They handle state-level complaints and can guide you through the investigation process.
   2. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (federal discrimination issues). If your employer has more than 15 employees, this is often the right path.
   3. The NH Department of Labor (for wage and hour or retaliation complaints). They enforce laws around pay, hours, and legal protections for workers.
4. Meet deadlines. Some complaints have short filing windows, so act fast. Missing a deadline could limit your legal options. If you’re unsure, it’s always worth asking an attorney to help calculate your timeline.

You can do this. And you don’t have to do it alone.

Horn Wright, LLP: Portsmouth’s Trusted Employment Law Advocates

When your job feels like a battlefield, you need someone in your corner. 

Our employment law attorneys at Horn Wright, LLP, serve Portsmouth workers with the compassion of neighbors and the strength of seasoned advocates. 

Whether you're dealing with discrimination, wage theft, retaliation, or wrongful termination, our legal team knows how to build your case and protect your rights. We understand the local industries, their challenges, and the real people behind every employment issue. 

If your workplace has turned against you, one of the country’s most respected law firms is here to help you stand tall again. Call (603) 716-9415 today to request your free consultation.