When you work at Cook, you quickly learn that our values stand behind all our planning and decision making, including how we support and develop our employees. That is why we created My Cook Pathway, a program that activates our values in ways that equip our employees for success at Cook and beyond.
It’s important to us to help our employees reach their full potential, whether in their education, career, financial planning, or health goals. We know that sometimes issues like lack of money, time, or a lot of other things can make it hard to reach these goals.
Our My Cook Pathway program is our way of supporting our employees in all these goals, from their wellbeing to career goals to connection to community. Read on for how our employees experience our support.
Balancing work and personal life can be demanding. At Cook, we are committed to supporting employees by providing resources and guidance to support their wellbeing. To better understand employee needs, we regularly conduct surveys on wellbeing and engagement. Here are some key results from our recent surveys:
Percentage of our employees who feel engaged or connected in their role at Cook.
Percentage of our employees who believe a diverse group of people works well together.
Percentage of our employees who feel they are treated with respect at work.
Percentage of our employees who agree with the statement, “I feel connected to my coworkers.”
Additionally, our employees consistently rank us higher than externally benchmarked companies in terms of their intention to stay and their engagement or connection to the company and their roles.
We use these survey results to guide enhancements to benefits, resources, and support we offer. Take a look below at some of the reasons why people choose to join Cook and why they stay.
What our employees like about working at Cook
- Cook is a global company that has been a reliable employer since 1963.
- Cook conducts business with high ethical standards and integrity.
- Working with teams of diverse employees who collaborate well creates high job satisfaction.
- Cook believes in making our communities stronger.
- Hybrid and remote work opportunities are available depending on role.
- On-site cafeterias offer variety and affordability.
- Employee-run committees plan engagement events and opportunities to celebrate.
- Many locations have on-site fitness centers and walking trails, so staying healthy is convenient.
- Stretch breaks encourage ergonomic health.
- Our education support program helps our employees grow and reach their career goals (read more below).
Cook Medical offers a range of employee benefits in the US, including:
- Quarterly bonus program
- Multiple health plan options, including HSA, PPO, and Clinic plans
- Vision, hearing, and dental insurance
- Prescription drug coverage
- Disability insurance (short and long term)
- Company paid life insurance
- Optional life, critical illness, accident, hospitalization, and long term care coverage
- Flexible spending accounts (health care and dependent care)
- Health savings account
- Employee assistance program
- Paid time off (vacation, sick days, holidays)
- Parental leave
- Adoption assistance
- Retirement savings plan – 401(k) with company match
- 401(k) student loan repayment plan
- Financial education resources
- Tuition assistance and professional development assistance
- On-demand learning library
- Employee discount program
Fostering deeper connections
Cook employees hand out cookies for a Pride Month celebration at our Bloomington headquarters.
At Cook, we pride ourselves on valuing what makes people unique, and we believe who people are shouldn’t hinder the way they are treated within our walls. Though company culture is always a work in progress, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone is respected and appreciated.
Business Resource Groups at Cook Medical
We want everyone at Cook to feel connected, included, and heard.
Business Resource Groups (BRG) are employee-led, Cook-sponsored groups that have two goals: provide a safe space for everyone at Cook and influence the business with a viewpoint inclusive of all.
Whether you are a member or an ally, you have a place. Learn more about BRGs at Cook.
We encourage our employees to pursue the paths that matter most to them. Our goal is to partner with employees and meet them wherever they are in their journey. We offer various development opportunities that help employees grow and achieve their professional goals. Since our support program started, more than 3,800 employees have participated, advancing their education through the three types of programs below.
High School Equivalency Program
Earning your High School Equivalency (HSE) can be the first step in your education and career pathway. This program allows participants to earn a full-time paycheck while working part-time and attending HSE classes. Classes are available in the morning or afternoon.
Cook Tuition Assistance
If you want to update your skills to do your current job better or if you have your eye on another role that requires a specific degree, we want to help make that happen. Our employees have moved their careers forward with associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.
Cook Professional Development Assistance
If you’re interested in development opportunities that support your career at Cook but that are not directly required by your job or not in a traditional college or classroom setting, support is available. This might include attending workshops, webinars or conferences, or obtaining professional licenses or certificates.
We also help our employees set and manage their career goals, supported by a personal portal where they can create an individual development plan. The career portal also offers free, on-demand trainings on a wide range of skills and topics.
From the earliest days of Cook Medical, the communities where we are based have been very important to us. Our founder, Bill Cook, and his family supported revitalization efforts that brought businesses back to a waning downtown in our headquarters community. They and the company have supported activities and events that brought community members together, arts programming that enrich and educate, and many philanthropic efforts positively impacting many organizations and groups of people.
That tradition has continued in all the communities where we are now based, and employees are encouraged to give back to our communities in a wide variety of ways.
Learn more about our approach to community on our About page and our Social Impact & Sustainability page.