Gov. Jared Polis deserves credit for issuing an executive order this week that streamlines the process for firing state employees who refuse to get vaccinated for COVID-19 if they interact with vulnerable people or those living in congregate living settings like health facilities and prisons.
This shouldn’t be difficult, but it is necessary.
In Denver, 99% of city employees who did not have a health or religious exemption have been vaccinated.
As covered by The Denver Post, Polis eliminated a state rule that required written notice seven days in advance of a “pre-disciplinary meeting” for a state employee out of compliance with vaccination requirements. As a result, the state can now go directly to the disciplinary phase, providing written notice of potential disciplinary action without having to hold a meeting first. State employees have 10 days to respond in writing to the notice and can be fired immediately if they do not respond after that timeframe.
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