DHS Forced to Layoff Around 70 Employees

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Department of Human Services decided to cut around 70 jobs in its monthly commission meeting Tuesday.

DHS offered voluntary buyouts a couple of months ago but officials say because not enough people took them they will have to lay off a number of employees.

DHS Director Howard Hendrick said the cuts are causing DHS to take on a lot more with less resources.

"We really increased by 170,000 the number of people we served last year, an 18 percent increase in one year with no new workforce. And the lowest error rate in our region and the lowest error rate in state history, our staff is doing an incredibly good job of meeting record levels of demand," said Hendrick.

The layoffs will include about 70 jobs in Enid and Pauls Valley, and should take place in the next couple of weeks.