At-Will Employment in New Hampshire
State-specific overview · Employment Law
New Hampshire presumes good faith and fair dealing in employment, requiring reasonable cause for termination.
How New Hampshire treats At-Will Employment
New Hampshire courts have recognized an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in employment relationships, which effectively requires employers to have reasonable cause to fire employees. This common-law protection applies broadly across the state. Employees can bring wrongful discharge claims based on breach of this covenant, though the standard is somewhat less rigid than Montana's statutory good-cause requirement.
The general definition of At-Will Employment
An employment relationship where either party can end the job at any time without cause or notice.
At-will employment is the default employment relationship in most U.S. states. It means an employer can fire an employee for any reason (or no reason) without notice, and an employee can quit for any reason without notice. However, this freedom has limits—employers cannot fire workers for illegal reasons like discrimination, retaliation, or violation of public policy.
Read the full At-Will Employment entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in New Hampshire.