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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION REQUESTING A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING COOK COUNTY GOVERNMENT’S STATE OF OUR LABOR
WHEREAS, Cook County Government has an employee base of over 22,000 dedicated professionals that provide wide-ranging services to its 5.18 million residents; and
WHEREAS, the nation’s unpredictable business climate and volatile job market have placed increasing pressures on Cook County Government to attract, develop, and retain the workforce needed to provide necessary services to residents; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Government has positioned itself as an employer of choice by supporting and investing in its workforce through equitable and innovative approaches to recruitment and retention; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Government counts on the leadership of independently elected officials to run and deliver essential services, including the Cook County Board President who oversees Offices Under the President, the Cook County Assessor, the Cook County Board of Review, the Clerk of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the County Clerk, the Sheriff, the State’s Attorney, and the Treasurer. Additionally, operations and policy for Cook County Health are governed by the independent Cook County Health Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Human Resources directs and coordinates all human resources activities for those departments under the jurisdiction of the President of the Cook County Board; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Health and independently elected offices count on the support of their individual human resources department to maintain hiring policies and procedures; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners is tasked with prioritizing transparency and accountability in County operations and services, which includes understanding the current state of Cook County Government’s workforce.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby request a public hearing of the Labor Committee to understand the challenges and opportunities surrounding Cook County Government’s workforce, and requests an update on the following matters:
a. Efforts to reduce current vacancy rate and decrease hiring timeline;
b. Efforts to reduce employee turnover rate;
c. Presentation on aggregate demographics of the agency’s current workforce, limited to race and gender;
d. Efforts to work collaboratively with labor unions on hiring initiatives;
e. Efforts to establish and expand pathway programs to create and sustain a future workforce.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Cook County Board of Commissioners requests the following agencies to provide a short presentation on the status of their workforce describing matters (a) - (e) above:
1. Cook County Bureau of Human Resources;
2. Cook County Health;
3. Cook County Assessor;
4. Cook County Board of Review;
5. Clerk of the Circuit Court;
6. Cook County Clerk;
7. Cook County Sheriff;
8. Cook County State’s Attorney;
9. Cook County Treasurer;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution be distributed to the Cook County Bureau of Human Resources, Cook County Health, Cook County Assessor, Cook County Board of Review, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Cook County Clerk, Cook County Sheriff, Cook County State’s Attorney, and Cook County Treasurer. All relevant stakeholders will facilitate participation in the hearing with the goal of strengthening Cook County Government’s workforce.
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