2026 New Hampshire Labor Law Roundup
The following changes to New Hampshire employment law take effect on January 1, 2026:
Leave for Childbirth and Postpartum Care
Employers with 20+ employees will need to provide up to 25 hours of job-protected, unpaid leave to employees for certain baby-related medical appointments.
Employees can use the leave for:
Their own medical appointments for childbirth (the law doesn't define "for childbirth," but we assume this includes appointments to prepare for childbirth)
Their own postpartum care
Their child's pediatric medical appointments within a year of their birth or adoption
If both parents work for the same employer, they can share the 25-hour entitlement for the child's medical appointments.
Employees can substitute accrued vacation or other paid leave for unpaid leave time under this law.
Protections for Military Spouses
Employers with 50 or more employees at the same location in New Hampshire will need to provide certain protections for military spouses. Specifically, the spouses of service members who have been called into action will be protected from employment discrimination and will have reemployment rights within certain timeframes.
Action Items:
Update your leave policies to reflect this new entitlement.
Update other policies as needed.