Courtesy
Heather Korbulic
Friday, June 19, 2020 | 5:12 p.m.
Heather Korbulic, the interim director of the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, is leaving her post after two months because of threats from jobless Nevadans unable to collect benefits, Gov. Steve Sisolak’s office announced today.
A statement didn’t detail the harassment, only saying she requested the change because of “threats to her personal safety.” Korbulic will return to her previous position as director of the Silver State Health Exchange.
“Heather’s coordinated project management experience has benefited the department and the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to connect Nevadans to unemployment benefits,” Sisolak said in a statement. “I am so grateful to her for taking on this challenging project to make sure Nevadans were able to access their benefits.”
An interim director will be determined sometime next week.
The office has been widely criticized by jobless Nevadans for delays in issuing benefits — the product of a historic 25.3% unemployment rate from the COVID-19 business closures.
Many self-employed Nevadans expecting benefits from the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance stimulus program are still waiting for assistance from the overwhelmed department. Many have complained about difficulties getting through the office, often waiting hours on hold and never talking to a representative as the system was overwhelmed.
Korbulic replaced former director Tiffany Tyler-Garner, who stepped down in April amid criticism early in the pandemic that the department was not efficiently handling claims. Criticism continued under Korbulic, although Sisolak praised her for leadership that brought change.
That includes the processing of more than 131,000 backlogged claims and increasing the call-center capacity, Sisolak said.
Staff will continue to assist claimants, the release said.
