Proposed rule change would allow City of Denver to lay off longtime employees

DENVER — The City of Denver is looking to change its career service rules to make it easier to lay off longtime employees.

The proposed change comes as the city looks to address a $250 million budget deficit .

On Wednesday, the Office of Human Resources submitted a notice to city employees about a June 18 hearing to change Career Service Rule 14. The changes would allow the city to lay off employees solely based on merit.

Current rules base layoffs on length of service and performance, essentially protecting employees who have been in their jobs the longest.

The new rules would also end the practice of allowing laid-off employees to transfer to open positions if they are qualified.

“The intention of this revision is to ensure that layoffs are implemented in a more streamlined mann