https://www.siliconvalley.com/2021/01/26/edd-call-center-woes-unemployment-backlog-fraud-audit-jobs-layoff/

California’s Employment Development Department was woefully unprepared for the recession-linked spike in jobless claims during 2020 and may face a stubbornly high backlog of unpaid unemployment claims for some time, according to a scathing report released Tuesday by the state auditor.

The state Auditor listed an array of failures and mishaps at the EDD, which has consistently faltered in its efforts to pay benefits to workers who lost their jobs in record numbers amid coronavirus-linked business shutdowns ordered by state and local government agencies.