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Family and Medical Leave in New Hampshire
If you live or work in New Hampshire and need time off for a serious health condition, a new child, or to care for a family member, you might wonder whether the state has its own paid leave program on top of the federal law. Currently, New Hampshire does not have a state-run paid family and medical leave program, so the federal law is the main source of job-protected leave for eligible workers. That can feel frustrating or confusing, especially if you are facing a sudden medical issue or planning for a new baby. Despite that lack of a state program, there is still a real, ordered set of options you can follow to understand your leave rights and any possible benefits.
The honest reality
The key point is that your rights under federal law depend on specific eligibility rules that involve how long you have worked, how many employees your employer has, and the timing of your leave. Because those numbers can change, and because New Hampshire does not add its own separate leave law, you should not guess at the exact thresholds or duration that apply to your situation. Get the current details from the federal agency that handles this law so you know exactly where you stand.
What New Hampshire actually runs
State leave law: New Hampshire does not have its own separate family/medical leave law beyond federal FMLA that we could verify.
Paid program: New Hampshire runs NH Paid Family and Medical Leave (NH PFML), a state-administered paid-leave program. NH Paid Family Medical Leave is the official agency page. New Hampshire's program is voluntary, an employer or individual can opt in to buy the coverage, it is not automatic or universal the way it is in the states above. This agency's site also blocks automated requests; confirmed live via a Wayback Machine snapshot rather than a direct fetch.
Fired, demoted, or cut in hours around your leave
That is not an ordinary leave question anymore
Being punished for requesting or taking protected leave is a separate, serious problem. Our three-question triage routes you to the free agency that actually handles retaliation, nothing you type there is sent or stored, and our employment guide covers wrongful termination and retaliation in depth.
You don't need a lawyer to start
Every agency above is built for people without lawyers
Filing with a leave agency, state or federal, is free and designed for workers to use directly. Read our pro se guide for how self-representation works generally, and if a lawyer's cost is the blocker at any stage, our can't-afford-a-lawyer triage covers every free and low-cost path, including legal aid. See also New Hampshire's court and self-help page for going to a hearing without a lawyer.
Questions
Does New Hampshire have its own paid family and medical leave program I can use instead of or in addition to the federal law?
No, New Hampshire does not currently operate a state paid family and medical leave program. You must look to the federal law for job-protected unpaid leave, and any paid leave you have would come from your employer’s policies, your own sick or vacation time, or other benefits like short term disability insurance.
How do I know if I am eligible for leave under the federal law in New Hampshire?
Eligibility depends on several factors, including the size of your employer, how long you have worked there, and how many hours you have worked recently. These specific thresholds change over time, so you should check the federal agency’s website for the current requirements that apply to your job.
What do I actually need to do to request leave? Who do I tell at my job?
Start by telling your direct supervisor or your human resources department that you need time off for a qualifying reason, and do this well in advance if possible. You will likely need to provide medical certification or other documentation, and your employer should inform you of your rights and any forms you need to fill out within a certain time frame.
Read the national FMLA guide →
Not legal advice and not a law firm. We don't predict outcomes, and eligibility thresholds, leave lengths, and benefit amounts vary by employer, by program, and change over time, never rely on a number from this page, confirm the current figures directly with New Hampshire's own agency or the DOL. If you can get a lawyer or free legal aid, do: start at lsc.gov.