If you live in New Hampshire and want to file a discrimination claim against your employer, you need to contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) office located in Boston, Massachusetts.
New Hampshire does not have an EEOC office. According to EEOC rules, workers that want to file a discrimination complaint need to contact the nearest EEOC office, even if it is located out of state.
Although the Coronavirus pandemic has prevented New Hampshire workers from visiting the Massachusetts EEOC office, the length of the drive into Boston is reason enough to take advantage of the EEOC public portal to schedule a telephone interview.
How many days do you have to contact the EEOC office? The answer is 180 days after the last act of discrimination, although in some cases, a New Hampshire worker can request an additional 120 days to contact the Massachusetts EEOC office.
What Does the EEOC Do?
The EEOC enforces every federal discrimination law by first conducting thorough investigations, and then reviewing evidence to determine whether a worker has a valid claim.
At the heart of federal discrimination law is the Civil rights Act of 1964, which outlaws discrimination based on a large number of criteria.
- Race
- Gender
- National Origin
- Sex
- Religion
- Disability
EEOC also has the legal power to enforce an age discrimination law that was not part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Additional anti-discrimination statutes enforced by the EEOC concern sick and family law enacted at the federal level. The EEOC not only protects the right of workers, but the federal agency also protects the rights of job applicants.
Where to File an EEOC Claim in New Hampshire
JFK Federal Building
- 15 New Sudbury Street, Room 475
- Boston, MA 02203-0506
- Office Hours: M-F 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
- Phone: 617-565-3200
- Director: Feng K. An
- Regional Attorney: Jeffrey Burstein
New Hampshire Employment Laws
New Hampshire is considered by many legal scholars to have some of the toughest employment laws in the United States. The New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate based on criteria such as age, sex, race, and national origin.
Employers that have fewer than six workers are not legally liable to follow New Hampshire discrimination laws. Other organizations that are exempt from the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination include non-profits, exclusive social clubs, and religious associations.
New Hampshire law also protects pregnant workers by allowing employees to take time from work for illnesses that are triggered by pregnancy.
Any employer that fails to grant time off for pregnant workers has committed a violation of the New Hampshire Law Against Discrimination.
According to New Hampshire statutes, harassing another employee in the workplace is a crime. For example, it is a misdemeanor to harass an employee by making abusive phone calls or sending threatening emails. The key to proving harassment in the workplace is to save every harassing email.
Getting Help to File an EEOC Claim in New Hampshire
Fighting back against your employer because of discriminatory acts in the workplace can be difficult to do. Your employer might have at least one attorney on the payroll that addresses acts of discrimination.
You should level the legal playing field by contacting an employment attorney. Your lawyer can help you submit convincing evidence of discriminatory acts, as well as negotiate a settlement with the legal team representing your employer.
