Christine baker biography dir

Christine Baker, director of the California Department of Industrial Relations since 2011, has retired.

André Schoorl, undersecretary of the state’s Labor and Workforce Development Agency, is now serving as acting director of DIR, an agency spokesman said.

Baker told DIR employees of her retirement in an email on Friday.

DIR workers also received an email from state Labor Secretary David Lanier regarding Baker’s departure. DIR provided copies of the emails to WorkCompCentral on Monday.

“Through her thoughtful leadership, the department has worked with employees and employers to achieve what was once thought impossible — a workers' compensation system that has increased benefits, improved medical care for injured workers and lowered rates for employers,” Lanier said.

Baker said she was proud to have collaborated with employers and worker advocates “to improve the health, safety and economic well-being of Calif