Connect Newsletter (July 14, 2023)

Workday News:

Important Information about Pay Increases and Retroactive Pay

We have some important updates regarding pay increases and retroactive pay that we would like to share with you. In order to ensure clarity and understanding, we have summarized the information in simple terms without any complicated jargon or abbreviations.

Pay Increases and Workday Updates

We are pleased to inform you that merit increases up to July 5 have been successfully recorded in our system, Workday. By the end of this week, you will be able to view the new pay rates in Workday.

Retroactive Payments in Two Parts

Due to the significant number of changes, retroactive payments, also known as "retro's," will be completed in two parts.

1. Retro Pay for June 18, 2023 to July 1, 2023:

The retroactive pay from June 18, 2023 through July 1, 2023 will be reflected in your upcoming paycheck, dated July 21, 2023.

 2. Additional Retro Pay

If your Merit date was prior to June 18, 2023, you will either see that additional retro pay on your July 21, 2023 OR August 4, 2023 paycheck.

Reason for the Delay

Retro pay prior to June 18, 2023 must be calculated manually for each person using the information from Lawson. There is a large volume due to the freeze period from Workday go-live. Payroll is working through these as quickly as possible. We appreciate your understanding and patience during this transitional phase.

The Importance of the Effective Date of Your Review

Lastly, we want to emphasize that your retro pay will be calculated back to the effective date of your Pace review. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your review's effective date, please reach out to the appropriate personnel.

We hope this information clarifies the upcoming pay increases and retroactive pay. If you have any further queries, please don't hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your attention and continued dedication to our organization.

The Workday Site is Now Live on CookNet!

Please take the time to visit our new CookNet site for our one-stop shop for any Workday information! The site has common hyperlinks and contact information, updates and job aids, with important information including our library of tip sheets and videos that walk you step-by-step through various common tasks performed in Workday! We hope you take advantage of this valuable resource for you.

For Managers: Requisition Information

If you are a manager who wants to do a job change that is not a full-time employee or a manager change within the same cost center, you will need a requisition. It must be approved and filled before the desired start date.

Attention Multilingual Employees: Your Language Skills Can Help Patient Families in New System-Wide ‘Zero Harm In Any Language’ Initiative

Are you good at speaking a language other than English? Would you like to be tested and approved to communicate with patient families who visit Cook Children's for health care? We have an exciting opportunity for you. Read all about this new program that aims to enhance language services for patient families, with the help of our employees.

Why You See Microsoft Teams on Your Computer Already

When you log on to your computer next time, you may notice a new icon for Microsoft Teams on your screen. Although the icon is visible now, the Teams application will only become available to all Cook Children's employees around mid-August 2023 (the exact date is yet to be determined).

We wanted to inform you about the presence of the icon and provide more details about what it means.

Introducing Microsoft 365 Modern Workplace

As part of our Microsoft 365 Modern Workplace project, we will be launching Microsoft Teams on all Cook Children's devices this summer. Teams is a powerful tool that combines collaboration and communication features into one interface. It allows you to chat (instant messaging), have online meetings, manage files, and work on projects in a single place.

Why do I see a new Microsoft Teams icon on my device?

This month, the Modern Workplace project team will start testing Microsoft Teams and migrating Microsoft Outlook email with a selected group of Cook Children's colleagues.

 When will I be able to start using Microsoft Teams?

As we approach mid-August, we will share more information, including the specific go-live date, a calendar to sign up for Microsoft Teams training sessions, and additional updates. For more details about Microsoft Teams and the Modern Workplace project, please visit our M365 Information Site on CookNet.

If you have any questions regarding this message, please reach out to the Service Desk at 682-885-7999 or email us at servicedesk@cookchildrens.org.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding as we implement Microsoft Teams as part of our efforts to enhance collaboration and communication at Cook Children's.

Looking Back at Raising Joy Episodes

The Raising Joy Podcast marked 50 episodes this past season! Discussing topics from “Mental Wellness & Suicide Prevention” with Sonya Parker Goode to “The Healing Power of Music” with our very own President & CEO, Rick W. Merrill. 

Although Raising Joy is on hiatus until its next season in August, take this time to discover JOY and look back on these very special episodes.  

Raising Joy is available on Apple, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

Presidents' Scholarship Award Recipients

On June 29, Cook Children’s awarded 10 deserving scholars of our employees with $5,000 each. Composed of current college students and incoming first year students, we are proud to contribute to their journeys through higher education. They are going on to pursue degrees in nursing, psychology, biology and mathematics.

Congratulations to not only the recipients, but also to their parents, our amazing employees for raising these dedicated and smart young adults. Best of luck to all of our recipients on their path to greatness!

Nursing: Embracing Our Values

Our series on the Cook Children's values continues. Today we are spotlighting how our amazing nurses are able to live our values every day in their special role by highlighting the value of Safety. 

Read about how nurses in the Hematology and Oncology Center spearheaded a protocol to reduce central line infection rates. 

To learn more about our incredible nurses at Cook Children's, click here to view the 2022 Nursing Annual Report. 
 

Opal Lee Reads to Patients and Families

Known by many as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” community activist Opal Lee and author Megan Jackson visited with patients at Cook Children's Medical Center this week. They read Jackson's children's book “Words are Magic" live on our Child Life Zone TV and joined patients in activities in the Child Life Zone.

She told our patients she wants them to grow up and study hard so they can run our country and not just be the president. "Be a senator. Show the courage," Lee said. "We need strong young people so hurry up and grow up!”

“Study hard and make sure that what you speak is positive because when you speak things you believe it,” Jackson said.

Summer Safety Bash

We invite all employees to attend the Summer Safety Bash from 10 a.m.-2p.m.  on Friday, July 21, at the Medical Center-Fort Worth Atrium. Opportunities will be provided to learn various safety information, win prizes and giveaways, all while enjoying delicious ice cream for the first 300 attendees. We do hope to see you there!

Be A Hero: Please Give Blood

The need for blood is constant. Blood donation is a simple act that can save lives. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. Blood is used in surgeries, to treat cancer patients, and to help people with blood disorders. 

If you are able, please sign up for our next blood drive, scheduled for July 17 at the Cook Children's Medical Center-Fort Worth, Family Support Meeting Room A. 

And please save the date for a blood drive on Aug. 18 at the Rosedale Office Building (ROB). We'll keep you posted when we get the sign-up link. 
 

Sign Up Now for a Stop the Bleed Course

Cook Children's employees are invited to take a Stop the Bleed class on July 30 or August 31. Stop the Bleed is a grassroots national awareness campaign and call-to-action. Stop the Bleed encourages bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. 

The class will be from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Pavilion Classroom 3 at the Cook Children's Medical Center-Fort Worth. 

Please sign up here.