What Happens When Work Makes Space for Life: Doris’s Story
At Family Friendly New Mexico, we often talk about policies – paid leave, flexible scheduling, wellness supports – but what really matters is what those policies make possible in people’s lives.
Recently, our Board President, Giovanna Rossi, had the opportunity to speak with Doris Rivera, a longtime educator and K–12 Education Coordinator at the LANL Foundation, who shared her experience with a powerful but often overlooked workplace benefit: extended leave.
Her story is a reminder that sometimes, the most impactful thing an employer can offer is something simple and radical: time.
A Career Rooted in Care
Doris has spent her life in education. After 20 years as an elementary school teacher, she transitioned into her current role supporting educators and early childhood initiatives in Rio Arriba County. She’s now been with the LANL Foundation for over a decade.
Like so many in education and caregiving professions, Doris describes her work as deeply meaningful, but also all-consuming.
“It’s not work that just ends at 5 o’clock. It’s very difficult to shut our computers down.”
That constant sense of responsibility is familiar to many employees, especially those in service-oriented roles. And over time, it can take a toll.
The Power of an “Extended Leave”
At the LANL Foundation, the policy isn’t called a sabbatical—it’s called an extended leave. But the intention is clear:
To give employees time to step back, rest, spend time with family, and return renewed.
For Doris, that’s exactly what it did.
“The goal is to give us a break from the work… an opportunity to step back, collect ourselves… and come back recharged and rejuvenated – which is exactly what happened with me.”
This wasn’t just time off. It was protected, intentional time to pause – without guilt, without pressure, and without the expectation of staying “on.”
Employees become eligible after seven years of service, at which point they can take up to eight weeks of paid extended leave.
This isn’t last-minute time off. The policy is designed with advance planning built in – employees work with their teams and leadership ahead of time to ensure continuity, redistribute responsibilities, and set clear expectations before stepping away.
Why This Matters: For Employees and Employers
Doris’s experience highlights something we see again and again: when employees are given real space to rest, everyone benefits.
For employees, extended leave can mean:
- Mental and emotional reset
- Time to reconnect with family and personal priorities
- A renewed sense of purpose and energy
For employers, it means:
- Increased retention
- More engaged and focused staff
- A culture that truly supports wellbeing, not just in theory
And perhaps most importantly, it sends a clear message: you are valued not just for your productivity, but as a whole person.
Rethinking What “Support” Looks Like
Family-friendly workplace policies are often thought of in terms of flexibility or compliance. But Doris’s story invites us to think bigger.
What if supporting employees meant building in time for restoration, not just accommodation?
What if we recognized that stepping away is not a disruption to work, but essential to sustaining it?
A Model Worth Sharing
Stories like Doris’s are exactly why Family Friendly New Mexico exists: to highlight what’s possible when workplaces are designed with real lives in mind.
Because when employers invest in people – not just performance – they create environments where both can thrive.
If your organization is exploring ways to better support your employees, we’d love to connect. Learn more about Family Friendly New Mexico and how you can build a workplace where people – and their families – can truly thrive. Visit us at www.familyfriendlynm.org
