New Mexico Addendum
New Mexico Employee Addendum
This addendum is intended for New Mexico based employees only.
GBA Employee Manual
New Mexico Employee Addendum
Earned Paid Sick Time (EPST)
Employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Employers are not required to permit use or carryover of more than 64 hours of earned paid sick time in any 12-month period.
Accrual will begin immediately upon employment, and there is no probationary period for use of EPST.
Employees must make a reasonable effort to notify employers of foreseeable leave. Employees must request use of paid sick time leave through oral or written request. EPST is paid at the same hourly rate and with the same benefits as regular working hours.
Documentation may be required for your EPST after 2 consecutive days of absence, and you will have 14 days from your return to work to submit it.
Required Documentation
A background check must be conducted in accordance with 8.9.6 NMAC on all required individuals at least once every five years from the original date of eligibility, regardless of the date of hire or transfer of eligibility. Fingerprinting is completed through the NM DPS/IDEMIA Universal Enrollment Platform (nm.ue.state.identogo.com), reviewed by the ECECD Background Check Unit (ececd.bcu@ececd.nm.gov, 505-827-9910). Fingerprint results are valid for only 29 days, so submit your packet promptly. Employees will be responsible for ensuring there is no gap in their background check.
Staff Training & Professional Development
New staff members working directly with children, regardless of the number of hours worked per week, must complete an ECECD-approved orientation before working with children (covering topics such as scope of services, emergency first aid, fire and evacuation plans, licensing regulations, and guidance/abuse-reporting policies), complete 11 required health and safety topics within 3 months of hire, and complete the 45-hour entry-level course (or an approved 3-credit early care and education course) prior to or within 6 months of employment. Substitute educators are exempt from the 45- hour/3-credit course requirement. Training must be approved by ECECD; approved training and substitutions are listed on ECECD’s website.
Each staff person working directly with children and more than 20 hours per week, including the director, is required to obtain at least 24 hours of training each year. For this purpose, a year begins and ends at the anniversary date of employment. Training must address all seven competency areas within two years. The competency areas are: (i) child growth, development and learning; (ii) health, safety, nutrition and infection control; (iii) family and community collaboration; (iv) developmentally appropriate content; (v) learning environment and curriculum implementation; (vi) assessment of children and programs; and (vii) professionalism.
GBA Employee Manual
New Mexico Employee Addendum
Training must be provided by individuals who are registered on the New Mexico trainer registry. Paid Time Off (PTO)
Each employee has an opportunity to receive 8 hours of Holiday Pay to be used on Presidents Day each year, as the centers are closed, but it is not a paid holiday. This benefit is available for achieving the state’s required amount of training hours required for the FOCUS Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System (TQRIS). Employees must complete minimum number of training hours required for your position. (see requirements above under Staff Training and Professional Development)
Employees must complete their approved training, between the payroll following Presidents day each year, to the Friday prior to Presidents Day each year.
Employees must be employed for a minimum of 90 days to receive this benefit.
Travel Pay — State-Specific Requirements (New Mexico)
New Mexico follows the FLSA for travel pay but has a higher state minimum wage and local minimums in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
● State minimum wage: $12.00/hr. Verify each January 1. ● Santa Fe city minimum wage: $15.40/hr (within Santa Fe city limits), scheduled to increase to $17.50/hr on January 1, 2027 under a new city ordinance. Verify each January 1. ● Albuquerque city minimum wage is $11.85/hr, but New Mexico's $12.00/hr state minimum wage is higher and therefore prevails — pay $12.00/hr. Verify each January 1. ● Tipped employees in Albuquerque: $7.20/hr cash minimum as of January 1, 2026. ● Multi-city rule: When working in more than one city in a workweek, the applicable minimum wage for each city applies to hours worked there. ● No daily overtime — only the federal 40-hour weekly threshold applies. ● Payroll record retention: minimum 4 years (New Mexico requires wage and hour records be retained for four years plus the current year; Earned Paid Sick Time records must be retained 48 months under the Healthy Workplaces Act).