Hundreds of executive branch employees have been suspended or have left state government work altogether nearly two weeks into enforcement of the Baker administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
As of Wednesday, October 26, 362 executive branch workers were on a five-day or 10-day suspension for failing to either attest that they are immunized against the virus or seek a religious or medical exemption, according to Governor Charlie Baker’s office.
Another 141 employees departed their jobs in response to the mandate, with 130 of those resignations voluntary, Baker’s office said.
More than 5 percent of the roughly 42,000 active workers subject to the requirement are in a state of flux. The governor’s office said 2,138 employees are still having their compliance status reviewed, awaiting a ruling on an exemption request, on an approved unpaid leave, or in the three-day waiting period to comply with the mandate after having an exemption denied.
Baker’s mandate imposed an October 17 deadline for executive branch state employees to submit the necessary paperwork. Those who do not comply face progressive discipline from suspensions up to termination.
The suspensions in place this week represent 0.9 percent of the executive branch workforce, while 0.3 percent of executive branch employees left their jobs after failing to comply with the mandate.
A total of 39,197 workers who either submitted a vaccine attestation, received an exemption, or had their vaccine status verified remain on track for compliance as of Wednesday, October 26, translating to 93.7 percent of the employee pool.
Those figures are slightly lower than the 40,462 employees, or 95.2 percent, described as in compliance on October 18. Baker’s office said the original number included exemption requests, which are now counted in a separate category since many have been reviewed.
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