Sponsored by: ALMA E. ANAYA and BRIDGIT DEGNEN, Cook County Board of Commissioners
RESOLUTION UPDATING THE 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 Retention Bonus Program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby amends the program by adding each appointed, independent, separately elected, or administrative officer (collectively “Agencies”), to the evaluation and decision making process for the Retention Bonus Pay Program, previously authorized under Resolution No. 22-3501, to offer non-compounding one-time incentive payments to address attrition, operational and hiring challenges, and to overcome other labor market challenges; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, appointed, independent, separately elected, or administrative officer (collectively “Agencies”) will be authorized to partake in the decision-making process in the Retention Bonus Pay Program, alongside the Chief of the Bureau of Human Resources and the Budget Director, who will evaluate said requests; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, if there is a disagreement in any way on the eligibility for the bonus program, and/or the dollars allocated per job code, if the respective agency is within their budget, the disagreement shall be submitted for discussion and approval in Committee before the County Board; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby support the continuation of the Retention Bonus Pay Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this resolution will be incorporated by reference in the FY27 Budget Resolution; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this resolution will go into effect on December 1, 2026.nd