Effective September 1, 2024, New Hampshire House Bill 1169 prohibits discrimination based on a person’s protective hairstyle. A “protective hairstyle” means hairstyle or hair type, including braids, locs, tight coils or curls, corn rows, Bantu knots, Afros, twists, and head wraps.
Next Steps
Employers should review and update their existing equal employment opportunity and non-harassment/non-discrimination policies to include updated language regarding the term race to ensure it is inclusive of hair texture and protective hairstyles. In addition, employers should review and update their existing dress code and/or grooming policies to remove reference to prohibition on hairstyles that may be protected under this law.
Train managers and those involved in the hiring process not to make judgments about professionalism or cultural fit based on how someone wears their hair and to ensure their own unconscious bias does not negatively affect candidates or employees.
