Connect Newsletter (Dec. 2, 2025)

UKG Pro Workforce Management to Replace Kronos

Cook Children's is making a major upgrade to scheduling and timekeeping tools. In February 2026, we will launch a new system: UKG Pro Workforce Management.

This powerful new platform will replace our current system, UKG Workforce Central, what some of you may still refer to as Kronos. Think of it as trading in an older model for a sleek, modern sports car designed for efficiency and ease of use.

Please click here for all the details on this system from Kym French, Director of Payroll Services. 

This change will impact our employees who use a time clock. 

What’s Happening?

• We are installing new time clocks across the Fort Worth campus, clinics, Urgent Care Centers, and the Prosper campus over the next few weeks.
• For now, employees will use a temporary hand-held scanner to scan the barcode on the back of your employee badge when clocking in and out.
• Later in the project, we will move to a tap-to-clock process using your badge. More information will be shared before the project is launched. 

Why This Matters
The new time clocks are part of our work to provide a more modern, consistent, and user-friendly timekeeping experience across the organization.

If you have any questions, please submit a request through ServiceNow.

Thank you for everything you do for our patients, families, and one another.

Hope Has a Home Here: Anna Claire's Story

Take a moment to read about the Beavers family, who at just 20 weeks pregnant, learned their baby girl had hypoplastic left heart syndrome and Turner syndrome. With this combination of medical complexities, most hospitals refuse to treat with the Norwood procedure because of the high risk. But Cook Children’s embraces caring for children with even the most complex conditions.

The family searched the country for hope and found it in Fort Worth. They temporarily relocated so their daughter could be born near Cook Children’s, and within 24 hours of birth, Anna Claire underwent her first open-heart surgery.

To learn more about Anna Claire's story click here. 

Safety Reminder and Details for Holiday Extravaganza

For our Holiday Extravaganza festivities, please do not attempt to view fireworks from any Cook Children’s parking garages. It's important that ample, safe, and close parking is available for our patient families and for the employees and medical transport teams who are working on site. Employees should park in your regular designated garage. Please help us keep the other garages open for patient families.

In addition, please adhere to any road or sidewalk closures, as well as all traffic cones or barricades that may reroute your typical walking or driving patterns. These are placed in accordance to required safety zones and it's important we follow all requirements to ensure a safe and successful show. 

Holiday Extravaganza details: 

Join us from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, for a night of holiday activities -- including a visit with Santa from 3 to 4:45 p.m. -- outdoor games, live performances, and a spectacular fireworks show. 

In exchange for your photo with Santa, please bring a new, unwrapped infant toy that we can share with our patients and families. Our patients' favorite infant items include: Wubbanubs, musical and light up toys, rattles, board books, shape sorters, and teethers.

Jingle Mingle: Celebrate the Season Together!

The holidays are here and so is Jingle Mingle, an annual tradition of coming together to enjoy great food, as we take time to connect and celebrate the spirit of the season. All Cook Children’s employees are invited to join the fun, whether by attending an in-person celebration or utilizing funds provided for off-site and fully remote teams. 

For IDT forms, virtual contest, and full event information, please visit the Team Experience CookNet site.

Join us for APP Fellowship Program Informational Session 

Transform your career in just 10 short months through the Cook Children’s APP Fellowship Program. This fellowship is designed to support the clinical and professional growth of highly motivated nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Learn more about the APP Fellowship at an informational session at 4 p.m. on Dec. 4. 

For more information visit Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Fellowship Program. 

A Reminder About Special Visitors to Cook Children's

We are excited that we will once again be hosting notable athletes, celebrities, and others who generously give their time to visit Cook Children's patients during the holidays. Please remember that these visits are for our patients.  

The Child Life team works hard to organize these events so that every patient in the hospital has the opportunity to participate. As employees of Cook Children’s, it is our responsibility to represent Cook Children's in a professional manner. None of us should approach the visitors, nor should we ask for autographs, photos, memorabilia, or contact information.  

Cook Children's values the relationships that we have created with these special visitors, and we are proud of the quality experiences we are able to provide for our patients and their families. Your cooperation in making this year successful is greatly appreciated.

As a reminder, please take a moment to review our Social Media policy. You must be on the network to view the policy.

Share Your Content with Us

Do you have any tips, ideas or content you would like us to know about? We want to hear from you! Please view our SharePoint site and email us at InternalCommunications@cookchildrens.org. 

To find more content about our employees and news you need to know, bookmark our Connect Newsroom website.