Washington Sheds 3% Of State Employees After Vaccine Deadline

WASHINGTON — More than 1,900 state employees left their jobs or were fired Tuesday after the deadline passed for them to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or secure an exemption, according to the Office of Financial Management.

The OFM estimated 92 percent of the state's workforce was in compliance with Gov. Jay Inslee's mandate by the end of Monday. That figure accounts for 89.4 percent of the state's 63,291 employees who verified they were vaccinated before the Oct. 18 deadline, and another 3 percent who received exemptions and accommodations to continue in their roles.

For about 5 percent of employees — or 2,887 people — final decisions were still pending Tuesday, including workers who were still in the process of getting vaccinated and those whose accommodations, retirements, or separations were still in progress. The remaining 3 percent of state employees — approximately 1,887 people — failed to meet the requirements and were fired, resigned or retired, the state said.

Earlier Tuesday, Washington State Patrol confirmed 127 of its 2,200 employees were let go, including 74 commissioned officers and 53 civilians.

The state's final figures showed vaccination rates among state agencies were above 90 percent nearly across the board, including some that lagged in earlier data, like the Department of Agriculture and the State Parks and Recreation Commission. Compliance even hit 100 percent in a few places, including among the 60 employees working within Inslee's office.

According to the state's tally, agencies approved 1,514 religious exemptions and denied 1,646, with 610 still listed as pending Tuesday. For medical exemptions, 413 were approved and 69 were denied, with 142 still pending.