Christine Baker abruptly retired as Director of the Department of Industrial Relations last week. No public announcement of her decision has been made by the DIR.
Her decision comes as a surprise to the industry stakeholders. According to a post by Julius Young on his blog, her decision was announced by an email she sent last Friday to DIR employees.
Christine Baker was the first woman to serve as director of the Department of Industrial Relations.
Her experience comes from working with labor and management as chief of the Division of Labor Statistics and Research (1984-89), the deputy director for the Division of Workers’ Compensation (1990-94), and the executive officer of the California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation from its inception in 1994 until April 2011. During her tenure as executive officer, the commission’s role expanded to overseeing the health, safety and workers’ compensation systems in California and recommending administrative and legislative changes for improvement.
In April 2011, Christine was named acting director of DIR and was appointed director by Gov. Brown in December. The Senate Rules Committee voted unanimously to confirm her appointment in May 2012.
As director, Christine served as the state administrator of Apprenticeship, the administrator of the state OSHA Plan, an ex officio member of the California Self-Insurers’ Security Fund and an ex officio member of the State Fund board of directors.
Ms. Baker is president-elect of the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards & Commissions (IAIABC), and has chaired the California Insurance Commissioner’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Focus Group and the advisory committee of the International Forum on Disability Management.
Ms. Baker is the recipient of numerous awards. Small Business California recognized Christine as one of its 2008 Small Business Heroes. In 2012, she received the Human Rights Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens.