Report I2012-0651 Recommendations and Responses in 2015-041
Report I2012-0651: Employment Development Department: It Failed to Participate in a Federal Program That Would Have Allowed the State to Collect Hundreds of Millions of Dollars
| Department | Number of Years Reported As Not Fully Implemented | Total Recommendations to Department | Not Implemented After One Year | Not Implemented as of 2014-041 Response | Not Implemented as of Most Recent Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Development Department | 1 | 2 | 1 | N/A | 0 |
Recommendation To: Employment Development Department
To ensure that EDD efficiently acts to take advantage of future collection opportunities, we recommend EDD institute a routine process for staff to identify and thoroughly evaluate ideas for improving EDD's ability to collect overpayments. This process should require staff to bring promising ideas to the attention of EDD's senior management so it can give prompt, informed consideration to these ideas and document in detail the substance of that consideration.
Response
EDD reported that since our initial report, it has improved its structured process, which is called the business results planning process. As part of the process, it now includes staff suggestions as a standing agenda item in the monthly staff meetings. In addition, EDD reported that it has identified, evaluated, and implemented several improvements, including a staff recommendation to increase cross-training and job shadowing. It further reported that its collection division staff has brought forward seven new ideas that are being evaluated or are pending implementation.
EDD also reported that in its Winter 2014 employee newsletter, it promoted to its employees the State Merit Award program, which provides financial incentive for employees to submit ideas for improving state operations. In February 2015, EDD's director reminded employees of the Improve EDD program, which provides a dedicated email address for employees to submit ideas, suggestions, and solutions. EDD highlighted this program in a special edition of the employee newsletter, including the requirement that EDD branches report to the director every 30 days until each suggestion has been addressed.
- California State Auditor's Assessment of Status: Fully Implemented
- Completion Date: October 2015
- Response Date: October 2015