In 2022, I faced the fight of my life. After enduring nine grueling months of unexplained fevers, night sweats and a swollen spleen, I booked a one-way ticket to Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. There, I received a devastating diagnosis: hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive blood cancer with a median survival rate of just three to 28 months.
The treatments were challenging and time-consuming. Treatments for complex conditions like cancer can take months and sometimes years. Chemotherapy, total body irradiation and a stem cell transplant required me to relocate to Phoenix for six months to stay close to Mayo Clinic. On top of the physical toll, renting an apartment near the hospital and covering living expenses added a significant financial burden.
Managing fatigue, nausea and other side effects meant I had to carefully balance work with my energy levels, focusing on tasks when I felt up to them. These careful calculations went on for months. But even this was a privilege: I could keep my health insurance and adjust my work responsibilities. Only some have that option. For many New Mexicans, a health crisis means facing an impossible choice: prioritize your health or your livelihood.
That’s why New Mexico needs the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.
For most New Mexicans, stepping away from their job to focus on recovery or care for a loved one isn’t financially viable.
Three in four New Mexico workers lack access to paid family leave, forcing families to make heartbreaking choices during crises. The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act would provide a lifeline, ensuring workers can take the necessary time without risking financial stability or their financial future
Paid leave allows people to focus on healing, caregiving or welcoming a new child without fear of losing everything they’ve worked for. It’s not a luxury, it’s a necessity for creating healthier families and communities.
As the cofounder of a Las Cruces-based gaming company, I understand how important it is to balance supporting employees with managing costs. Comprehensive paid family and medical leave makes this possible. Funded through modest contributions from employees and employers, the program would enable workers to take essential time off without requiring small businesses to bear the entire financial burden.
Businesses with fewer than five employees, making up 66 percent of New Mexico businesses, wouldn’t pay into the program but could still benefit from it. Evidence from other states shows that paid leave policies reduce turnover, improve morale and increase productivity – outcomes that strengthen businesses of all sizes.
Paid family leave is also an economic opportunity. States with similar programs have seen higher workforce participation, particularly among women. This policy could be transformative in New Mexico, where labor force participation is among the lowest in the nation.
Additionally, paid leave reduces reliance on public assistance programs, saving taxpayers money and allowing families to stay financially secure. When workers can take time to recover from illness or care for loved ones, they return healthier and more focused, benefiting both their employers and their communities.
When I think back to my six months in Phoenix, I’m deeply grateful for the flexibility and support I had. But I also remember meeting people who didn’t have the same opportunities, people who delayed or skipped critical treatments because they couldn’t afford to stop working.
Paid family leave isn’t just good for business, it’s the right thing to do. It’s about recognizing our shared humanity and about ensuring that no one is forced to choose between their health and their livelihood. It’s about building a New Mexico where we care for one another, and every worker has the dignity of knowing they won’t be left behind in their time of need – because at some point, all of us will encounter a time where we need help.
Rob Thompson is the cofounder and COO of Ganymede Games and a volunteer with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
