Director of California’s troubled EDD set to retire

The director of the embattled California Employment Development Department is retiring, officials said Friday.Sharon Hilliard, who was appointed as EDD director in February, will stay on until Dec. 31, according to an internal memo obtained by KCRA 3 Investigates. A replacement has not been named.“It has been my privilege to be part of the Employment Development Department (EDD) team since the day I walked into the EDD building over 37 years ago,” Hilliard said in the memo. “At that time I was 19 years old and looking back I could not have imagined how fortunate it would be to work with so many caring, strong, and professional people determined to provide the best services possible to the citizens of California. It is with a heavy heart that I announce my retirement as of December 31, 2020.”EDD has faced a lot of criticism since March over the distribution of unemployment benefits to those impacted by the novel coronavirus and the resulting public health restrictions that forced many industries to close for several months.EDD experienced massive backlogs and delays within the department, as well as massive nationwide fraud against EDD during the COVID-19 epidemic.Several state legislators had called for an overhaul of the EDD and Hilliard’s resignation in the wake of those issues.In July, Gov. Gavin Newsom developed a strike team to look into the agency’s outdated technology and recommend changes to clear the backlog. The report, which was released in September, said the problems at EDD were with unmanned call centers and new hires with not enough training to help claimants. Hilliard oversaw changes from the strike team, which pushed for a way to streamline identification checks of claimants as a way to help clear the backlog.“I am grateful for Sharon’s service and willingness to step into the role of director just before the pandemic. She has helped pave the path for EDD to reset its culture and modernize the system at this critical time,” California Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary Julie A. Su said in a statement. “This has been a challenging time for the people of California and Sharon and her team have put in the work during this time of unprecedented demand.” In several hearings with the Legislature, Hilliard said they were implementing many of the task force’s recommendations — but many others were still not put into place.”This past year I have been committed to seeing the EDD through the most challenging times in the Department’s history, but I believe I can now retire knowing that the EDD is on a great path to success,” Hilliard said in the memo. “Although this year has come with many challenges, we have accomplished more than we ever thought possible providing additional enhancements to our customers and staff. I am grateful to all of you who made personal, tireless sacrifices to make it possible.”Hilliard had been chief deputy director at the Employment Development Department from 2013 to 2019. Before that, she held multiple positions in the department starting in 1983.This is a developing story. Stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.

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