27
May
2026
|
14:09 PM
America/Chicago

More than Compensation: Benefits and Perks Factor into Total Rewards

Summary

Understanding the concept of Total Rewards is like seeing the job landscape with a wider lens. The big picture contains your compensation plus the variety of incentives that make working at Cook Children’s attractive.

Total Rewards at Cook Children's 1920 x 1080

Compensation is an important piece of your package of Total Rewards as an employee of Cook Children’s.

Total Rewards also includes the benefits, perks and privileges that our organization provides for employee well-being, professional development, a dynamic workplace culture and overall job satisfaction. These are the extras that help attract and retain top talent.

Total Rewards at Cook Children’s encompasses a wide array of advantages such as annual bonuses and merit increases based on system and individual performance, career advancement opportunities, paid parental leave and bereavement leave, and paid time off. Lifestyle benefits feature options such as pet insurance, legal services, adoption assistance, tuition assistance paid upfront, student loan refinancing and an emergency travel benefit.

Think of Total Rewards as salary plus the other investments that Cook Children’s makes on behalf of employees and their families. For example: vesting for retirement after three years, short- and long-term disability, medical and pharmacy benefits, and even beloved events like Halloween Hoopla for celebration and team bonding. 

“Pay matters, but true compensation is more than salary – it’s the combination of pay, benefits, wellbeing, development and more. Total Rewards tells the full story of how team members are supported, valued and invested in every day,” said Merridth Simpson, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer.

Understanding the concept of Total Rewards is like seeing the job landscape with a wider lens. The big picture contains your compensation plus the variety of incentives that make working at Cook Children’s attractive. Future stories will be on Connect Newsroom and will take a closer look at comprehensive benefits, long-term retirement objectives, employee wellness programs and much more.

Comments 1 - 2 (2)
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Julie Lyon
31
May
2026
I have always felt Cook Children's has a generous benefits package & so often through the years our insurance rates were allowed to stay the same even though rates overall went up.

And, will always remember that during Covid while many others were laying off, Cook stayed strong and committed to re-assigning employees to different roles when their role experienced a slowness as opposed to letting people go.

These are just 2 of the many reasons I am grateful for my job here at Cook Children's!
Teresa Juarez
28
May
2026
I just wanted to say how thankful I was for the 5 days of bereavement leave when my father unexpectantly passed away in October. My parents lived out of town, and I was able to go be with my mom for a few days, and then go back later to help with decisions, which was a true blessing. My employment at CCMC is something I am thankful for every day.