SANTA FE – New Mexico state government has received a “Family Friendly” business award for the first time ever, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office announced today.

The Platinum Seal awarded to the state’s executive departments, agencies, boards and commissioners is the highest honor offered by Family Friendly New Mexico, a nonprofit initiative that has been supporting and recognizing businesses that adopt family-friendly policies since 2015.

Gov. Lujan Grisham directed the state Personnel Office to apply for the award. The application resulted in high scores in the categories of health support, work schedules, pay equity and diversity and inclusion, paid leave, economic support and community investment.

“We’re proud of the family-friendly workplace we’ve created in state government, and we want everyone to know this is a great place to work. Come join us,” Lujan Grisham said.

The governor’s pro-family initiatives include a 4 percent across-the-board pay raise approved by the Legislature for state employees. In July, she ordered all agencies to adopt wellness and fitness policies for state employees and established a labor-management task force to explore other wellness initiatives. Last week, she issued an executive order requiring state agencies to create alternative work schedule policies with guidance from the State Personnel Office.

“The state is committed to accommodating employees’ family needs, supporting appropriate work-life balance, improving employee wellness, and promoting a productive and dignified work environment,” the governor stated in the order.

“Every single day, our state employees come to work to make New Mexico a better place for their neighbors and their communities,” said Pam Coleman, State Personnel director. “Our governor sees and appreciates these hardworking public servants through her words, her actions, and her policies. Not only is she striving to make their work time more efficient, productive, and sustainable, but their personal and family time better as well. How fantastic that Family Friendly recognizes this core commitment.”

State government, with about 17,000 employees, is one of the largest employers to receive the honor, said Giovanna Rossi, founding director of Family Friendly New Mexico. This was the first-ever platinum seal the organization has awarded, she said.

The organization had previously awarded gold, silver or bronze seals to 219 New Mexico businesses with 112,173 employees. It also offers sample policies, a digital toolkit and other resources for businesses seeking to become more family friendly. Those resources are available here.