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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION UPDATING THE RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE AND RETENTION BONUS PAY PROGRAM
WHEREAS, in 2022, the Cook County Board of Commissioners authorized the Cook County Bureau of Human Resources to enter into a pilot of the Recruitment Incentive and Retention Bonus Pay Program; and
WHEREAS, this program came to be after the County experienced the effects of the Great Resignation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic which led to many vacancies in various fields; and
WHEREAS, the goal of this program is to recruit more employees and increase Cook County’s workforce by offering non-compounding one-time incentive payments to address attrition, operational and hiring challenges, and to overcome other labor market challenges; and
WHEREAS, this program was in effect for Fiscal Years 2022, 2023, and 2024, and agencies that participated in the program touted much success in lowering their attrition rates and closing vacancies; and
WHEREAS, the Resolution and Annual Appropriation Bill for Fiscal Year 2025 included directives for the Chief of the Bureau of Human Resources and Budget Director to evaluate and approve an agency’s request to participate in the Recruitment Incentive Pay and/or Retention Bonus Program; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners are tasked with the implementation of programs the Body votes for and seeks to update the rules governing the Recruitment Incentive Pay and Retention Bonus Program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby amends the program by designating the Budget Director and each appointed, independent, separately elected, or administrative officer (collectively “Agencies”), subject to salary and wage appropriations of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, that choose to participate in the Recruitment Incentive Pay and/or Retention Bonus Pay Program(s), to make decisions governing how the program is implemented within their respective Agency; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Budget Director and each Agency will work to identify available funding for the payment of the Recruitment Incentive Pay and Retention Bonus Pay for the designated position(s).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in the event of a disagreement, the appointed, independent, separately elected, or administrative officer will have final authority over how the Recruitment Incentive Pay and Retention Bonus Program is implemented within their respective Agency.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby support the continuation of the Recruitment Incentive Pay Program and Retention Bonus Pay Program.
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