Episode 42: Avoiding Discrimination in Hiring and Firing on New Hampshire Farms

Farm Commons

In this episode, we explore a hard topic in employment law — discrimination in hiring and firing on the farm, specific to New Hampshire law. While many farmers would never consider their employment practices discriminatory, the truth is that legal discrimination can creep in on even the most well intentioned farms. This is because there are personal characteristics that are protected by law. These include federally protected characteristics of age, health condition, race, religion, ethnic identity, sex and gender, as well as New Hampshire protected characteristics of smoking and crime and domestic violence victims. If an employment decision is made on the basis of these characteristics, even if indirectly, there is the potential for a legal claim of discrimination. Tune in to learn how to identify and avoid (accidental) discrimination in employment law on your farm so that you can manage your workforce with confidence.