New Law Requires New Mexico Employers to Offer Paid Sick Leave

Soon, New Mexican workers will no longer have to go to work when they are sick, thanks to a new law.

The Healthy Workplaces Act requires that all private employees, including part-time and temporary workers, receive at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to 64 hours per year. The law also prevents employers from retaliating against workers who use the leave. 

AARP New Mexico strongly supported the legislation, emphasizing how it would help family caregivers. 

“No one should feel forced to go to work when they are sick or, worse yet, worry about losing their job,” said DeAnza Valencia, AARP New Mexico’s associate director for advocacy. 

To allow a gradual transition for businesses recovering from the pandemic, the law will not go into effect until July 2022.