The San Luis Obispo County Department of Social Services and its director, Devin Drake, faced allegations of workplace hostility in a lawsuit filed by a former employee.
The Feb. 21 complaint for damages came from Sara Zepeda who worked for the department for almost 16 years. Most of Zepeda’s complaint focuses on alleged mistreatment by her supervisor, Andi Franco, in her final six months of employment.
“Ms. Franco’s behavior included harsh scrutiny, nitpicking her responses,
dismissing her suggestions without constructive feedback, and creating a hostile work
environment that severely undermined Ms. Zepeda’s confidence and ability to perform her duties effectively,” the complaint said. “As a result of Ms. Franco’s persistent approach and behavior, Ms. Zepeda’s mental health deteriorated rapidly. This decline began affecting her well-being and her ability to perform her job effectively.”
The situation peaked when Zepeda disclosed to Franco that the supervisor’s leadership style allegedly triggered her childhood trauma and escalated her anxiety. Franco reportedly then disclosed sensitive information about Zepeda’s trauma to Deputy Director Michelle Enfantino. Ultimately, Human Resources got wind of the conflict between Zepeda and Franco.
In June 2024, the department held a meeting to discuss their challenges, according to the complaint. It stated that Franco, Enfantino, Drake, and two HR staff members attended the meeting, but Zepeda wasn’t invited even though she wanted to join. After, Enfantino presented her with a list of concerns that didn’t acknowledge Franco’s actions, the complaint added.
“Ms. Zepeda requested that a neutral mediator be brought in to address the ongoing unproductive dynamic between herself and Ms. Franco,” the complaint said. “However, Mrs. Enfantino rejected the suggestion, accusing Ms. Zepeda of potentially ‘manipulating’ the mediator.”
Zepeda was the department-wide training program manager. Hers was a new position that had to be approved by the SLO County Board of Supervisors in 2022, according to Dana De La Torre, the case manager for attorney Benjamin Eghbali’s firm, which is representing Zepeda.
“Ms. Zepeda’s role was a macro-practice level position designed to streamline mandatory training execution, tracking, and reporting; oversee strategic planning initiatives; and develop a robust onboarding curriculum and protocol for new employees and newly promoted/hired leaders within the agency,” De La Torre said.
Zepeda’s complaint stated that she received “upstanding performance reviews” during her tenure, and the county gave her increasing levels of responsibility at work. In 2020, the SLO County chapter of the National Association of Social Workers recognized her as the social worker of the year.
Zepeda requested a lateral transfer to a different position within the agency, the lawsuit states. But her request was denied. Zepeda sued over the failure to provide reasonable accommodations and failure to engage in a good-faith interactive process.
“Mrs. Enfantino reported that the request had been discussed with Mr. Drake, who stated, ‘We do not transfer employees due to not being able to get along with their boss,'” the complaint said.
By mid-July 2024, Zepeda was on medical leave for almost two weeks based on her physician’s observation that working in such an environment was a severe mental and emotional strain on her. During her time away, she noticed that the county posted her position for interim hiring.
“Ms. Zepeda was further perplexed by how quickly her position was posted,
given the formal countywide hiring freeze, which required the Board of Supervisors’
approval before positions could be posted,” the complaint said.
In September 2024, Zepeda resigned. Her attorney’s office said that she’s secured full-time employment outside the county system.
SLO County Counsel Jon Ansolabehere told New Times that the county couldn’t comment on pending litigation and would be defending itself. He confirmed that Franco is still employed with the Department of Social Services. Δ
Editor’s note: This article was updated to include an image and a link.
This article appears in Spring Arts Annual 2025.
I know Sara Zepeda and I know Devin Drake, and there is no doubt in my mind that this is another example of Devin’s disdain for women who are smarter than he is, as Sara surely is. His is a lengthy history of contempt, isolation, and persecution of female employees, and it is the ultimate sadness that the Board of Supervisors has allowed him to remain employed this long. I hope Sara prevails.
There have been MANY long time employees that have literally walked out over the last year due to the hostile conditions there – myself included.
SLO DSS has had systemic issues for a long time, I left in 2018 because I got sick of fighting with them for reasonable accommodations, and being punished for reasonable accommodations I’m entitled to under ADA. Hope this causes some positive change.
I know Sara Zepeda & her family all very well. And I can tell you that Sara is a a kind woman, wife & mother, she’s non-confrontational & it doesn’t surprise me that the county is protecting some jerk that has ligetimetly messed with her emotionally & physically. And I ought to know I live nextdoor to her!