A human resource of a company or organization is generally an employee, and the department that communicates with employees and manages employee-related issues—including job applications, job interviews, drug tests, employment offers, wages, benefits, paid time off (PTO), unpaid leave, employee reviews, termination of employment, and unemployment insurance claims—is often known as the human resources department, or human resources, or simply HR. An employer’s human resources department may consist of one person in a smaller organization or many persons in a larger organization, and is often headed by a human resources manager or human resources director.

In New Mexico, as in other states, the human resources (HR) department plays a critical role in managing the employer-employee relationship. This includes overseeing job applications, conducting job interviews, administering drug tests, making employment offers, and managing wages, benefits, and paid time off (PTO). HR is also responsible for handling unpaid leave, conducting employee reviews, overseeing termination of employment, and processing unemployment insurance claims. The size of an HR department can vary from a single individual in small companies to multiple staff members in larger organizations, typically led by an HR manager or director. New Mexico state statutes and federal laws govern various aspects of employment, such as the New Mexico Minimum Wage Act, the New Mexico Human Rights Act, and the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which set forth the legal framework within which HR departments must operate. These laws cover minimum wage requirements, anti-discrimination protections, overtime rules, and other employment standards. HR departments must ensure compliance with these regulations to avoid legal liabilities and to maintain fair and lawful employment practices.