(1) The director may suspend without pay, reduce in rank, or remove any employee at any time for cause, providing that any person who has been continuously employed for 1 year or more immediately preceding any suspension or discharge may demand and receive a hearing before the department on the charges filed.
(2) The director shall rate all employees on the basis of merit and efficiency in accordance with rules adopted by the department to secure a proper rating of each person employed. The department shall fix the salaries of employees. Travel expenses, as provided for in 2-18-501 through 2-18-503, are allowed employees on official business away from designated headquarters.