The Human Rights Bureau is a neutral agency created to enforce the New Mexico Human Rights Act. The Bureau accepts and investigates claims of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, ancestry, sex, age, physical and mental handicap, serious medical condition, spousal affiliation, sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity in the areas of employment, housing, credit or public accommodation.
Our office also offers the following services at no charge:
After the discrimination charge is taken, the complainant and the respondent are given the option to participate in a Mediation session, wherein an attempt at a mutually agreed upon settlement is made prior to an investigation. This agreement is a "no-fault" agreement, in which terms and conditions of a settlement are negotiated between the complainant and the respondent, and in which the respondent does not admit violations of the law and the complainant agrees not to file suit against the respondent based on the same issues. If either party chooses not to participate or the parties cannot agree to a resolution, an investigation is conducted.
The Human Rights Bureau offers training and education sessions to employers, employees or any other interested groups about preventing discrimination in the workplace and the Human Rights Act. These services are provided free of charge. If you are interested in receiving training, please contact us at (505) 827-6838 or use our online request form.
The Bureau offers limited technical assistance concerning compliance with anti-discrimination statutes to employers and others affected by the Human Rights Act. Please contact us at 1-800-566-9471 (toll-free in New Mexico) or (505) 827-6838.
Laws
The Human Rights Bureau enforces the provisions of the Human Rights Act of 1969 (and subsequent amendments), which prohibits discrimination and retaliation in the areas of employment, housing, credit, and public accommodations. Under a work-sharing agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Bureau also enforces provisions of federal workplace discrimination laws. The Bureau can also investigate Charges filed pursuant to the New Mexico Fair Pay for Women Act, the Criminal Offender Employment Act, the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, and the Caregiver Leave Act.
This law makes it illegal to discriminate against someone in the workplace based on race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. The law also makes it illegal to discriminate against a woman because of pregnancy, childbirth, or a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth. The Act also requires that employers reasonably accommodate applicants' and employees' sincerely held religious practices, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer's business.
This law protects people who are 40 years of age or older from discrimination because of age.
This law makes it illegal to discriminate against a qualified person with a disability, because they have a history of a disability, because they are regarded as having a disability, or because of their relationship with a person with a disability. The law also requires that employers reasonably accommodate the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an applicant or employee, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer's business.
Similar to the laws described above, this law makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), age (40 or older), ancestry, disability, serious medical condition, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or spousal affiliation.
This law protects employees from being paid less than the opposite sex for equal work.
This law is New Mexico’s “ban the box” statute, which prohibits employers from inquiring about an applicant’s arrests or convictions on an initial application for employment.
This law requires that employers allow employees who have paid sick leave available to use their own paid sick leave to care for an injured or ill family member.
For assistance in filing a complaint, or for any other information on the Human Rights Act, please call (800) 566-9471 (toll-free) or (505) 827-6838, or visit our website at: www.dws.state.nm.us.
Para ayuda a completar una queja, o para más información sobre la Ley de Derechos Humanos, por favor llame al 1-800-827-6838, o visite nuestra página por Internet en www.dws.state.nm.us.
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions is committed to making all information on this website accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. If you have problems accessing a page on this site, please email nmdws.communication@dws.nm.gov.
Contact the Human Rights Bureau
Phone
1-800-566-9471 (toll-free in New Mexico) or 505-827-6838
- Investigation, Compliance, and Alternative Dispute Resolution