Welcome to May’s edition of HR Hot Topics! This month’s episode centers around Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) and the results of several independent audits and investigations into agency actions during the COVID crisis. For those of you who were trying to navigate the UIA system during COVID, you know what a mess it was. But it turns out, woeful understaffing, antiquated systems and a decimated fund balance were just the tip of the iceberg! A recent report from the auditor general found the state agency made $8.5 billion in improper payments from 3/20-9/21, $3.8 million of which were due to fraud committed by UIA employees! Then UIA Director, Steve Gray, resigned amidst these challenges and received a severance check totaling almost $86,000! Tune in below as I peel back more layers of this onion and describe what’s being done to rectify the situation.