New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions > News

Workforce readiness training prepares youth workers for Carlsbad employers

Students aged 15 and up in Carlsbad, New Mexico, earned up to $200 for attending a workforce readiness training program and accepting jobs with local employers as part of a project aimed at providing youth with valuable work experience, and an effort to address immediate workforce needs throughout the city.

Community Career Fair: Goodwill Los Lunas

If we frontloaded 64 hours to an employee who does not use any hours for sick leave, do we have to carryover that 64 hours and frontload another 64 hours at the start of the next year?

Whichever way employees accrue sick leave—whether through frontloading or continuous accrual—at least 64 hours of unused leave must be carried over each year. Yes, that could result in an employee having a balance of 128 hours, even if the employer’s policy limits annual use to 64 hours. If an employee used some of their paid sick leave during the year so they have fewer than 64 hours remaining in their balance, then the employer would have to carry over all unused hours.

Can a business frontload 32 hours for part-time employees?

No. Employers can frontload more than 64 hours, but not less.

Can an employer elect to pay out unused sick leave balances at the end of each year instead of carrying over the hours?

An employer may not require employees with unused leave balances to cash them out but may allow it if it is permissible under their leave policy and the employee elects to do so. Employees with unused accrued leave at the end of the year should have that leave carried over to the next year but cashing out a paid sick leave balance instead is permissible at the employee’s option.