Recruit & Retain Programs (Hard to Fill)

Description

MU Health Care’s Recruit & Retain Programs provide financial incentives to employees working in designated high-need and hard-to-fill roles. These programs are designed to support workforce stability, recognize continued service, and encourage long-term retention in roles critical to patient care and operations.

This article outlines the available Recruit & Retain options, explains eligibility and enrollment requirements, and describes how and when payments are issued.

Program Overview

Recruit & Retain Programs are retention-based incentives, not sign-on bonuses. Payments are issued only while eligibility requirements are met and stop if eligibility ends. No repayment is required.

Employees may enroll in one Recruit & Retain program at a time, based on role eligibility and personal preference.

Available Program Options

Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)

  • Up to $10,000 toward eligible student loans

  • Monthly payments (approximately $167 per month)

  • Available for eligible positions

  • Payments continue while eligibility and enrollment are maintained

This option is best for employees prioritizing student loan reduction.

Retention Reward Program (RRP)

  • $2,000 paid annually, up to $10,000 over five (5) years

  • Payments issued at annual enrollment anniversaries

  • Available for eligible positions

Eligibility Requirements

You may be eligible to enroll if you:

  • Are benefit-eligible

  • Maintain an appointment of 0.75 FTE or greater

  • Are actively working in an eligible position 

  • Have received all payments from any prior sign-on incentive

  • Are not enrolled in another Recruit & Retain program

  • Are not working under a scholarship payback obligation (typically three years)

Enrollment and Ongoing Eligibility

How to Enroll

  1. Confirm your role’s eligibility with your leadership team

  2. Log into the HR Hub and navigate to the My Incentives tile

  3. Select the program that best aligns with your goals

    • You may see multiple program options:

      • Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)

      • Retention Reward Program (RRP)

    • You are only allowed to enroll in one program

  4. Submit the Recruit & Retain Program Application and sign the required waiver

  5. For Student Loan Repayment, complete additional enrollment through Tuition.IO

Once you successfully enroll:

  • Enrollment continues for the full program period

  • Eligibility is based on:

    • Active employment

    • Continued eligibility on each payment date

If your role later becomes non-eligible, enrollment may continue for the remainder of the program period, provided eligibility requirements are met.

Leaves of Absence

  • Recruit & Retain payments are paused during a leave of absence

  • Eligibility time is also paused and resumes upon return to active work status

Eligibility Changes

If you initiate a change in eligibility, your enrollment may be terminated from the program.  Eligibility change examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Changes in FTE
  • Transfer to non-eligible title or department
  • Promotion or demotion to non-eligible title or department

Recruit & Retain and Sign-On Incentives

Recruit & Retain Programs do not run concurrently with sign-on incentives.

  • Employees who receive a sign-on incentive:

    • Become eligible for Recruit & Retain after the final sign-on payment is issued

  • Employees who do not receive a sign-on incentive:

    • May be eligible to enroll immediately if all other criteria are met

Eligibility for sign-on incentives varies by role and individual circumstances. Not all employees in eligible roles receive sign-on incentives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is this a sign-on bonus or a contract?
No. Recruit & Retain programs are not sign-on bonuses and do not require a contract or repayment.

Q: Do I have to repay anything if I leave my role or the organization?
No repayment is required. Payments simply stop if eligibility ends.

Q: When are payments issued?
Payment timing depends on the program selected and is based on your enrollment date, not your hire date.  Payments typically process within 2 pay cycles of your enrollment anniversary.  

Q: Can I switch programs after enrolling?
No. Employees may enroll in one Recruit & Retain program at a time and must complete or exit the current program before enrolling in another.

Q: What if I don’t receive an expected payment?
If a scheduled payment is missed and you believe you met eligibility requirements, submit an AskHR ticket for review.

Final Note

Recruit & Retain Programs reflect MU Health Care’s continued investment in employees serving in critical roles. These programs are designed to support long-term retention, recognize sustained contributions, and strengthen workforce stability across the organization.

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