WCA Criticized for Holding Training at Family Fun Venue

Tuesday, November 5, 2019 | 0

The New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration is under fire for spending nearly $12,000 on a staff training and team-building day at a family entertainment venue.

The WCA gathering, held at the Main Event in Albuquerque on Sept. 26, also included arcade games, billiards, bowling and laser tag, KOB 4 reported. Main Event describes itself as “your headquarters for family fun and entertainment.”

The state of New Mexico paid almost $12,000 for the venue, games, food and a keynote speaker, as well as travel expenses for some employees located elsewhere in the state, according to the news report. More than 100 state employees reportedly attended.

While WCA employees were attending the mandatory meeting, WCA’s offices were closed to the public — a fact that drew criticism from state Rep. Patty Lundstrom. She told KOB 4 that state offices have a responsibility to be open during business hours.

Lundstrom also called it a “poor decision” to hold the meeting at Main Event.

WCA Deputy Director Verily Jones chose Main Event for the staff meeting while she served as the agency’s acting director. She said the event was a way to show staff they are appreciated, and she thought it was an appropriate use of taxpayers dollars.

Last year, the annual WCA training took place at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History at a cost of about $5,000 less, KOB 4 said.