Commissioner Michael Harrington is stepping down after five years leading the Vermont Department of Labor, Gov. Phil Scott announced Friday.
“Mike has been a skilled and dedicated public servant, especially helping us lead through the pandemic where there was an unprecedented number of Vermonters unemployed all at once,” said Scott in a Friday press release. “I’m grateful for Mike’s service to Vermont and wish him all the best.”
Harrington has been at the helm of the state’s Department of Labor since June 2020, according to the release, and he previously served as the department’s Deputy Commissioner, a role that he held from 2017 until he was tapped to lead the agency.
“It has been a tremendous honor to serve the people of Vermont as labor commissioner and a privilege to work for a governor who exhibits such steadfastness and integrity,” said Harrington in the release. “While I have chosen to move on from my position, I am encouraged knowing that Governor Scott, and his team, will continue to fight for affordability and the economic well-being of every person in Vermont.”
As the head of the Department of Labor, Harrington saw the state through the Covid-19 pandemic and multiple rounds of catastrophic flooding — all periods of intense turbulence for Vermont’s labor force. During the pandemic, Harrington came under fire from state lawmakers over the agency’s rollout of pandemic-era unemployment benefits.
Harrington will remain in his post until July, according to the press release, which did not specify his next plans. VTDigger was unable to immediately reach Harrington for comment.
