Board of Commissioners of Cook County - File #: 26-1251

• File #: 26-1251
• Version: 2
• Name: Resolution requesting updates to the recruitment and retention bonus pay program
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Committee Reports
• File created: 4/15/2026
• In control: Finance Committee
• On agenda: 4/16/2026
• Title: PROPOSED RESOLUTION Sponsored by: ALMA E. ANAYA and BRIDGET 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 remains in effect and agencies that participated in the program touted much success in lowering their attrition rates and closing vacancies; and WHEREAS, the Recruit...
• Sponsors: ALMA E. ANAYA, BRIDGET DEGNEN

Date	Ver.	Action By	Motion	Result
7/16/2026	2	Board of Commissioners	defer as substituted	Pass
7/15/2026	1	Finance Committee
7/15/2026	2	Finance Committee
5/14/2026	2	Board of Commissioners	defer as substituted	Pass
5/13/2026	1	Finance Committee	accept as substituted	Pass
5/13/2026	1	Finance Committee	recommend for deferral	Pass
4/16/2026	1	Board of Commissioners	refer	Pass

title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION

Sponsored by: ALMA E. ANAYA and BRIDGET 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 remains in effect and agencies that participated in the program touted much success in lowering their attrition rates and closing vacancies; and

WHEREAS, the Recruitment Incentive Pay and Retention Bonus Pay Program and Resolution and Annual Appropriation Bill for Fiscal Year 2025 includes 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 subject to appropriation authority and the agency meeting the eligibility criteria established under the Program; and

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners encourages the Chief of the Bureau of Human Resources and the Budget Director to engage the requesting agency in the review of the request, collaborate in the analysis of the eligibility criteria and explain to the requesting agency should the agency not meet the criteria eligibility for the position to receive the recruitment or retention bonus.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Cook County Board of Commissioners encourages the Chief of the Bureau of Human Resources and the Budget Directo...