D. Sean Rowley
Cherokee Phoenix
TAHLEQUAH – Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. signed a new employee policy on June 5 that provides financial incentives to government workers who earn college degrees, with rewards ranging from $2,000 for associate degrees to $5,000 for doctoral degrees.
The Workforce Development Program applies retroactively to October 2019 and covers the tribe’s nearly 5,800 government employees, with plans for similar policies across CN business entities employing more than 14,000 people worldwide.
“Our employees are the heart of the Cherokee Nation, and this policy demonstrates our dedication to their professional advancement,” Hoskin said during the signing ceremony at the Jack Brown White House on the Sequoyah High School campus. “By encouraging continuous learning and offering meaningful financial support, we are investing in the future of our workforce and reinforcing our position as a leading employer across the country.”
The program requires service commitments tied to degree levels: one year for associate degrees, two years for bachelor’s degrees, and three years for master’s and doctoral degrees. Employees must maintain performance standards and complete relevant and accredited programs to qualify.
Deputy Chief Bryan Warner emphasized the policy’s alignment with Cherokee values.
“This is such an important measure of encouragement,” Warner said. “This is what we always talk about within our community values of encouraging one another to stick together, to work together, to hold each other sacred. This is another way that we continue to do that.”
The initiative comes as the CN has established itself as a competitive employer through an array of workforce improvements. In 2021, Hoskin implemented a $15 minimum wage and conducted a comprehensive wage study that invested $10.6 million to increase salaries for more than 80% of government and health care employees.
Chief of Staff Dr. Corey Bunch mentioned the policy’s role in the tribe’s employer recognition.
“There’s a reason the Hoskin and Warner administration keeps winning these awards from Forbes as one of the best employers in the state, and it’s policies just like this,” Bunch said. “Every Monday morning when I’m able, I talk to the new employees at orientation, and one thing that I can tell them confidently is that we are continuously looking at our policies to improve the lives of our employees.”
The financial incentives supplement existing tuition assistance programs. Samantha Hendricks, executive director for human resources, said the policy addresses workforce development and retention.
“This policy is not only going to support our workforce, but it’s also going to help us retain talent,” Hendricks said.
Hoskin said the policy reflects encounters with employees throughout the organization who have pursued or completed degrees during his administration.
“(Warner) and I run into all sorts of employees across our workforce who are thinking about getting their degree, working on their degree, or in the time we’ve been in office have gotten their degrees,” Hoskin said. “I’m talking associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree. We even have some PhDs in our midst, a number of them right here, and that is something we ought to encourage.”
The tribe has implemented several employee-focused initiatives in recent years, including two paid mental wellness hours monthly, paid family leave for births and adoptions, and flexible spending accounts opened with $2,000 per child for eligible employees.
“This new (incentive) program underscores our belief that investing in our employees builds stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger Cherokee Nation,” Warner said. “We want every member of our workforce to have the opportunities and resources they need to excel.”
