Several state medical and correctional facilities in California failed to meet required staffing levels, a recent report from the California State Auditor found. The audit, which was pushed by state worker unions, confirmed labor groups’ concerns that departments are filling vacancies with contracted workers, instead of public employees. Despite recruitment efforts by departments that oversee state hospitals and prison, vacancy rates at each of the three facilities that were audited have increased in the last five years. The private contractors departments have come to rely on typically cost more than state workers and provide less continuity of care due to their shorter tenures, state auditors reported.
