Employee Adoption Benefits
What some people may not know about is Employee Benefits Programs. Many employers offer some form of adoption benefits to their employees, these benefits may include:
•Direct reimbursement in the range of $2,000 to $10,000 upon actual placement (usually a flat amount designated for specific adoption expenses)
•Paid leave, in addition to or including vacation time, sick leave, or personal days
•Unpaid leave
•Medical expenses of the birth mother
•Adoption seminars and information classes, as well as counseling and support before and after placement
Even if your employer doesn’t offer adoption benefits, you may request that your company to begin offering them. Work with other employees interested in adoption, gather information for the employer, and present your case.
Adoption Friendly Workplace is a program funded by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption that provides information about adoption benefits to employers and employees in both the public and private sectors. For more information about employer benefits, including an informative packet titled “Advocating for Adoption Benefits” call the National Adoption Center at 1-800-TO-ADOPT.)