New Mexico employment laws deals primarily with the relationship between employers and unions. New Mexico labor and employment law education and training includes a broad range of issues, such as hiring and firing practices, medical leave, overtime, worker safety standards and wages.

New Mexico labor laws are prohibited from interfering with federal labor laws or guidelines produced by federal agencies. Employer/employee relations were brought to the federal level in 1935 with the National Labor Relations Act (NRLA). Employers and employees may have their relationships governed by state laws if they are not subject to the NRLA. There are three steps to learning about labor and employment laws in New Mexico:

1. Formal education. Labor lawyers in New Mexico will typically need at least a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
2. Specialization. Attorneys can choose to specialize by taking legal training that is specific to labor and employment law in New Mexico.
3. Membership in professional organizations. There are many organizations of attorneys based on their area of specialty, such as labor and employment law.
   

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Attend a law school that specializes in labor laws in New Mexico

There are a variety of universities in New Mexico that provide training in labor and employment law, such as specific coursework, a formal concentration or legal clinics.

I recommend: The University of New Mexico School of Law offers upper class courses in labor and employment law. Concord Law School is an accredited college that offers a J.D. degree entirely online, which is ideal for busy labor and employment law students in New Mexico.

Obtain Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit for New Mexico labor law attorneys

New Mexico requires attorneys to stay current on changes in employment law with CLE courses. There are a variety of education and training programs in New Mexico that provide CLE credit in labor and employment law.

I recommend: The American Law Institute - American Bar Association provides many courses in employment law that have CLE credit in New Mexico. New Mexico Minimum Continuing Legal Education provides a comprehensive list of CLE courses for New Mexico, including classes in employment law.

Learn through professional training associations on New Mexico labor laws

Professional associations frequently offer formal training such as conferences, seminars and workshops in employment and labor law. These organizations also provide more casual meetings that allow attorneys to exchange tips on building and maintaining a practice.

I recommend: The Society for Human Resource Management provides news and rulings on employment law in New Mexico. The State Bar of New Mexico offers several programs on employment law.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  New Mexico labor law attorneys should also be alert for educational opportunities that do not provide CLE credit but nevertheless provide important information on labor and employment law. A typical event of this type might consist of watching a specific legal issue being reenacted by actors followed by a legal analysis in a relaxed atmosphere.

Labor laws in New Mexico help employers protect their businesses through compliance with safety standards, fair hiring practices and work environment. New Mexico labor and employment law helps both employers and employees have better working relationships in a more productive environment.

New Mexico labor and employment law makes working better for everyone. Labor law, though originally intended to improve working conditions for laborers, boosts a business owner’s bottom line by increased productivity.

New Mexico labor laws deal with job safety, employee foreman ratios; break time, lunch time and safety standards within the work environment. Updated New Mexico labor laws meet the demand of new technology and constantly changing work requirements. Understand and comply with New Mexico labor law to:

1. Stay in compliance with changes to New Mexico labor and employment law.

2. Provide productive work environments for employees through New Mexico employment law.

3. Protect your business from frivolous lawsuits.

4. Keep productivity high.

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Display New Mexico employment law posters in easy to read locations around your facility

Keeping employees informed of their rights and responsibilities under employment law in New Mexico keeps them empowered. New Mexico labor law posters provide the latest updates or changes in labor law in New Mexico.

I recommend: GovDocs and LaborLawCenter.com carry up to date government recommended New Mexico employment law posters for display around your facility.

Protect yourself and your employees by keeping up to date on New Mexico labor laws

The only way to guard your company from frivolous lawsuits and keep employees happy is to promote a safe work environment and understand your rights as an employer. Keeping up to date on changes to current laws and how they affect your particular company is vital to a healthy work environment.

I recommend: Visit the FAQ page of the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions website for quick answers about worker's rights and employer responsibilities. Also check out the official site of the New Mexico Administrative Code page for answers to New Mexico labor law questions.

Increase productivity by going above and beyond required state of New Mexico work laws

New Mexico employment law, as in any state, gives guidelines and requirements for what the state considers a safe working environment. Going above the minimum requirements to keep employees happy is a great way to increase their overall productivity.

I recommend: Visit the US Department of Labor for New Mexico labor contact information and access to labor law resources. HRhero.com is a subscription service offering the latest updates to state by state employment law.

Find New Mexico labor law attorneys from laws firms practicing employment law

Employment law attorneys from New Mexico employment law firms help clients understand New Mexico employment law. Labor lawyers in New Mexico keep clients informed and in compliance with the latest changes and updates to New Mexico employment law.

I recommend: Yenson, Lynn, Allen & Wosick, P.C. and Keleher & McLeod, P.A. of Albuquerque specialize in labor and employment issues in New Mexico.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Discuss changes to New Mexico employment laws with your union representative. If you are a non union business, be sure someone in your Human Resources department is in charge of all employment law related issues.
• •  Post New Mexico labor law posters anywhere employees tend to congregate or spend time on breaks. Conference areas, break rooms, lunch rooms and near time clocks are great places for labor law posters.

New Mexico labor and employment law basics allow employees to be paid what they deserve and employers to protect their businesses. The primary purpose of these laws is to level the playing field between employees and their employers.

New Mexico labor laws grant specific rights to collective bargaining organizations, also know as labor unions. Federal laws also control the rights of laborers to organize and generally take precedence over New Mexico's state labor laws. Specific classes of employees, such as domestic workers or agricultural laborers, are generally exempted from federal labor laws. Labor and employment law generally may be categorized into the following three groups:

1. New Mexico employment laws that deal with wages and benefits. Many states provide a minimum wage that is greater than the federal minimum wage. New Mexico laws also may offer other protections to workers that are greater than those specified by federal law.
2. Laws on displaying labor law posters. New Mexico has specific requirements on the display of labor and employment laws in the workplace.
3. Workers compensation insurance. New Mexico also has laws that specify the amount of insurance that employers must carry in the event that their employees are injured at work.
   

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Learn about NM employment law that regulates minimum wage and overtime

According to New Mexico labor law, businesses must pay their employees the federal minimum wage. Overtime laws generally control what an employee should be paid after 40 hours of work in the same week.

I recommend: New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions provides the current federal and state minimum wage information for New Mexico. Lisa Law View has a post on the scheduled increases to the minimum wage in New Mexico.

Find out how to display posters on NM employment law

New Mexico labor law posters keep employees informed of their rights and obligations under federal and state labor laws. Labor lawyers in New Mexico will advise their clients to display these posters in the workplace in a visible location where they are easy to read.

I recommend: Compliance Poster Company provides the posting requirements for labor laws in New Mexico, including those for tipped employees. mystateposters.com has the specific labor law posting requirements for New Mexico.

Provide workers' compensation insurance required by employment laws in New Mexico

Workers' compensation insurance in New Mexico protects employees and their families in the event of injury or death of an employee while on the job. Government websites, insurance agencies and New Mexico employment law firms commonly have basic information on workers compensation.

I recommend: The State of New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration provides the specific laws that cover workers' compensation insurance in New Mexico. Chapter 4, Title 11 of the New Mexico Administrative Code published by the New Mexico Commission of Public Records addresses workers' compensation in New Mexico.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  New Mexico labor laws are guided by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938. This federal legislation establishes minimum wages for most workers, along with specific exceptions. The FLSA was amended in 1974 to cover government employees.

Attorneys have a strong motivation to keep informed of New Mexico labor and employment law news and trends. Attorneys need to keep track of the latest rulings in cases involving New Mexico labor and employment law. The state also may change its forms and procedures at any time, which can affect the way these attorneys do their jobs. Attorneys also may want to know what laypeople are saying about labor and employment law, in order to correct any misconceptions they may have.

The best sources of information on news and trends for New Mexico employment law may be grouped into the following three categories:

1. Independent news sources on employment laws in New Mexico, such as blogs, magazines and newspapers. These sources are the most likely to provide news and opinions on labor and employment law that do not rely on any particular business or lobby group.
2. State websites. These sites are the best source of official news and trends on New Mexico labor law, such as current procedures or rulings.
3. Legal professionals. Attorneys’ websites provide opportunities to get inside news and information on labor and employment law.
   

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Study independent sources of news and trends on New Mexico employment law

News organizations frequently report on legislative updates on New Mexico labor and employment law. Individuals also may keep blogs and journals on labor law in New Mexico.

I recommend: The Albuquerque Journal has a story on allegations of labor law violations by a hospital in New Mexico. Santa Fe New Mexican has an article about a New Mexico bill that will protect workers from wage theft.

Review state websites to get official news and other information on New Mexico labor laws

New Mexico government websites are the best places to get the latest news about New Mexico labor and employment law. A New Mexico website also may publish the state statutes to help attorneys stay informed on the latest legislation that relates to New Mexico labor and employment law.

I recommend: The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions provides regular press releases on labor and employment laws in New Mexico. Albuquerque Economic Development provides the current employment trends in Albuquerque, as well as other employment news.

Get inside news on labor law from labor lawyers in New Mexico

New Mexico employment law firms frequently have information on New Mexico law that is not available elsewhere. These attorneys may publish newsletters or full length articles on a particular aspect of labor and employment law in New Mexico.

I recommend: Gilkey & Stephenson specializes in New Mexico employment law and provides regular newsletters on employment law. Modrall Sperling is located in New Mexico and offers a recent article on a proposed amendment to the Family Medical Leave Act.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are also many online forums for news and trends on New Mexico employment laws. These forums may have threads that are dedicated to a particular topic and readers typically will see a lively debate on each subject. The posts in these forums may consist of personal experiences, discussions and opinions. Forums also have a variety of methods for evaluating readers' opinions such as polls, surveys and votes that include reader comments.