Benefits

Outstanding benefits for our employees

Cook County provides its employees with generous health care, vacation, and other benefit packages that are designed to enhance your work experience and meet your personal needs.

Vacations, holidays, and family leave for special needs

Most of our employees receive 12 paid holidays each year, including one floating holiday. Employees also receive four personal days, plus twelve sick days. Vacation starts at 10 days for most new employees and increases with years of service.

Cook County's hospital staff receive a slightly different paid time off allotment, but the total benefit time received is the same. Additionally, our skilled trades also have different benefit time accruals, however, they are very competitive when compared with other employers.

Great family insurance benefits

Cook County offers its employees a generous health insurance program that includes medical, dental and eye care for you and your family. Employees can select from a wide variety of programs that cover the health needs of both you and your family, from HMO's to PPO's.

Basic term life insurance

Cook County insures the life of each employee for an amount equal to your annual salary. Plus, you have the option to elect for additional term insurance at affordable rates.

Learn more about Cook County's Benefits and Insurance Programs from the Department of Risk Management at 312.603.6422 or online at www.cookcountyrisk.com.

Coverage

A pension plan that delivers

Every County employee participates in our pension plan and you're vested after only ten years of employment. The County matches your contributions and with a minimum of ten years of service you can collect on your contribution as early as age 50. You can also elect to increase your pension benefit significantly by participating in our Deferred Compensation Program.

To learn more about the Cook County's pension plan, call 312.603.1200, or the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Program, call 312.443.1975.

Competitive salaries

Cook County salaries are competitive with both the private sector and other government entities.

Assistance

Family leave for special needs

Cook County is committed to supporting employees and their families, particularly when workers require time off to handle the added responsibilities of new arrivals or a family illness. Employees can also take a family leave for a serious health condition or to care for a spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent. Cook County will pay its share of health insurance premiums while you're on leave.

Parental Leave

Employees expecting a child have several leave options:

• Paid leave using accrued sick, vacation, or compensatory time.
• Unpaid parental leave.
• Ordinary disability benefits for partially paid leave for eligible employees.
• Unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Employee Assistance Program

We all need a helping hand sometimes, whether that means advice about daycare or elder care or information about depression or substance abuse. All County employees and their family members have access to the Cook County's Employee Assistance Program, which provides free, confidential, voluntary assistance for many types of personal problems. Call 312.603.1290 for more information.

Day Care Center

Day care center with limited enrollment located downtown at the Cook County Administration Building 69 West Washington. Call 312.603.8585 for more information.