Christine Baker, director of the California Department of Industrial Relations, announced her immediate retirement this past weekend.
Baker served the state for 34 years, and led the passage and implementation of key workers’ compensation reforms, notably SB 863. Her leadership helped create a better workers’ compensation system for all, saving employers billions of dollars in costs, and improving permanent disability benefits for injured workers. The reforms also included successful anti-fraud provisions that have been consistently defended in the courts.
Baker’s work will continue to serve workers, employers, and the Department’s mission in the future, and she will be missed. Labor and Workforce Development Agency Undersecretary André Schoorl has been named as acting director.