New Hampshire has enacted legislation (House Bill 182), which adds unpaid time off for firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and prohibits employers from retaliating against them for responding to certain emergencies. House Bill 182 takes effect on Aug. 13, 2024.
The details
Under the law, all employers must provide unpaid time off to a volunteer, call, reserve, or permanent-intermittent firefighter or EMT who does not report to work at the commencement of their regular working hours due to an emergency they witness or come upon while heading to a place of employment.
Note: “Volunteer member” does not include an individual who received compensation for over 975 hours of services performed over the preceding six-month period.
Notice and Documentation
Covered employees must:
- Inform their employer or immediate supervisor of the emergency; and
- Upon an employer’s request, submit a statement signed by the chief of the fire or ambulance department certifying the date and time they responded to and returned from the emergency.
Nonretaliation
Employers are prohibited from discharging or taking other disciplinary actions against covered employees who exercise their rights under House Bill 182. Employers that are found to have violated the law must:
- Immediately reinstate the employee to their former position without reduction of pay, seniority, or other benefits; and
- Compensate all lost pay or benefits during the period of termination or discipline.
Next steps
New Hampshire employers should review their time off policies and procedures, and train supervisors to help ensure compliance with House Bill 182 by Aug. 13, 2024.