Insider Intelligence

Liza Estlund Olson was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to serve as acting director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency effective immediately. Her appointment came after former UIA Director Steve Gray resigned. This is the second time Ms. Olson will serve as the UIA acting director, having previously served in the role from 2007-2008. She also […]

Steve Gray, a professor and attorney, was selected this week to lead Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). He is currently the director and founder of the University of Michigan Law School Unemployment Insurance Clinic that uses student representation in unemployment insurance cases to train over 150 first-year law students per year. He is also a […]

This week, the Senate voted to approve of a package of House bills making several reforms to the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). The reforms were developed by a workgroup comprised of business leaders, claimant advocates, and legislators from both parties. The UIA has been plagued with issues recently, including wrongly accusing thousands of Michigan […]

On Wednesday, the House passed a bipartisan package of legislation reforming the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA). The reforms were first introduced as a response to findings of a workgroup that found several issues within the UIA.  The bill package will: Address identity theft by creating a “watchdog” position to investigate fraud Ensures claimants don’t […]

This week, a bipartisan plan was unveiled reforming Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency.  The legislation is based on findings of a workgroup consisting of industry experts and legislators. The goal of the plan is to provide clarity, restore integrity and improve accountability within the agency and address the faults of the unemployment system. To end the […]

Michigan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September increased over the month by four-tenths of a percentage point to 4.3%, according to data released today by the Department of Technology, Management & Budget.  The number of unemployed rose in September by 19,000 while total employment was essentially flat.  The net result was a 17,000 advance in […]

This week, Michelle Beebe was announced as the new director of the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA).  She was selected by Wanda Stokes, director of the Talent Investment Agency, which oversees the UIA.  Ms. Beebe will start her new role on May 8, 2017.  She replaces Acting Assistant Deputy Director Bruce Noll, who will continue to […]

This week the House and Senate Democratic caucuses announced a proposal reforming the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) and restoring dollars paid by claimants after being wrongfully accused of unemployment fraud.  Their proposal follows a finding that the UIA made tens of thousands of false accusations of unemployment fraud.  The plan would reimburse the costs […]