DIR Director Christine Baker Announces Her Retirement

In an email to Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) staff late Friday, DIR Director Christine Baker announced that after 34 years at the department, she is retiring.  Ms. Baker was Governor Brown’s point person in the negotiations between employers, labor, and the Brown Administration that led to the passage of the 2012 legislative overhaul of the California workers’ compensation system (SB 863), and oversaw the Division of Workers’ Compensation’s subsequent development and adoption of the myriad regulations required to implement those reforms.  She has also played a critical role in the implementation of anti-fraud measures pursuant to SB 1160 and AB 1244.

California Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development David Lanier issued an email on Friday as well, lauding Ms. Baker and announcing that Labor and Workforce Development Agency Undersecretary André Schoorl will serve as DIR’s Acting Director.  Prior to joining the Labor and Workforce Development Agency in 2009, Mr. Schoorl served as deputy director of the California State Assembly Speaker’s Office of Member Services; director of the California State Speaker’s Office of Member Services, Los Angeles Office from 2003 to 2008; principal consultant for California State Senate President pro Tempore John Burton from 2000 to 2002; and chief of staff for California State Senator Richard Alarcón in 1999.

The Institute would like to thank Ms. Baker for her leadership and her outstanding service, and we wish her the best of luck in her retirement.   

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