Mexican Employers Face Compliance Requirements Under Seven-Year-Old Workplace Psychosocial Risk Standard

Mexico's NOM-035 standard on the prevention of psychosocial risks, which entered into force on October 23, 2019, requires employers to establish policies addressing workplace mental health, violence prevention, and organizational climate. Companies must adopt measures to prevent and control psychosocial risks, identify employees exposed to traumatic events, and conduct evaluations tailored to their workforce size, with penalties ranging from approximately $1,600 to $32,500 USD for non-compliance. As the regulation approaches its seventh anniversary, employers are being advised to reassess and confirm their ongoing compliance efforts.

Mexico implemented NOM-035 to create comprehensive workplace mental health protections, requiring all employers to establish formal policies regardless of size. The regulation addresses three interconnected areas: psychosocial risk prevention, workplace violence elimination, and organizational climate improvement. Companies must document their compliance efforts thoroughly, as regulatory agencies rely on recorded evidence during inspections.

For larger organizations with 16 or more employees, obligations expand significantly. These firms must conduct evaluations at minimum every two years, with additional assessments required when workers show signs of psychological harm or file violence complaints. Employers must also track and refer affected employees to mental health resources, creating institutional accountability for worker wellbeing.