[slssks]

Hi-
Just curious...those of you that have adopted, did you get any paid benefits like time off or reimbursement for expenses incurred? I am wanting to try to get some standards set in my state so that adoptive mothers get paid time off just like a mother who gives birth. I'd also like to ensure that newborns are automatically covered on either parents health insurance from the time the baby enters the adoptive family's home. I could go on and on about what happened to us this past month, but that would be way to long. Just know that it's glaring enough to me that I'd really like to see some changes. I don't know where to start in making steps, but I thought I'd ask you all what, if anything, you got. THANKS!

[Bcelli]

My employer - which is a Fortune 500 company - provides some reimbursement for adoption expenses. I took 4 weeks - 2 were vacation time, 3 days were sick time and the rest they comped for me for working hellacious hours earlier in the year. (I'm salary). Beyond that I would have had to take unpaid family leave. Paid maternity leave, however, is provided to a biological mother so she can physically recover from the process of birth - it is not a paid bonding period. But, as I understand, Canada provides a new parent a year off for bonding with the guarantee of their job when they return, though I don't know if that's paid or unpaid.

[waitinginnj]

I will receive $5,000 in adoption reimbursement and 2 weeks of adoption leave. My child will have health coverage from the date of adoption. I have 30 days to register the change, or I miss out.

I will also use my vacation time and will apply for an alternate work schedule to help with my transition. I expect/hope that this request will be honored. The company has a very good track record in this regard.

The 2 weeks is something that all new parents receive.(male or female). Those giving birth can receive additional pay through the disability program (not full pay) and finally there is the unpaid family leave.

I am thankful for what my company is providing. I truly believe that they try - within the parameters of what is reasonable from a business perspective.

If you are looking form more information on this topic you can access the Society of Human Resources website. (SHRM)

[Jupiter1701]

UK
Adoption leave and pay may allow one member of an adoptive couple to take paid time off work when their new child starts to live with them. Paternity leave and pay may be available for the other member of the couple, or an adopter’s partner.

[spaypets]

My company gave me the same benefits they would give a woman giving birth. I had saved vacation and personal time and was able to use the prior year's unused sick time for 4 paid weeks. I then took 4 unpaid weeks and am still taking one unpaid day a week of Family Leave (which because of our size they are not required to offer, but do anyway).

Everyone was really supportive and there has been no rolling of eyes about the time I took. No one ever suggested that I wasn't entitled because I adopted instead of giving birth. In some ways I think they thought I needed even more time than a bio mom because we needed to establish ourselves as parents and she needed to get to know us.

I thought it was a federal law that health insurers had to cover adopted children. I actually filled out the paperwork before we left the country so that she would be covered the minute we took custody.

[DianeS]

My employer gives adoptive parents the same benefits that parents who give birth get - NONE! (Well, at least it's even...)

Women who give birth do get to take disability leave at the standard disability pay level of 70%, for however many weeks their doctor orders it.

And it is a federal law that if you have coverage for "dependents" through your health insurance, that means the adopted baby is covered as soon as it is placed with you. (With or without preexisting conditions, too.) If that law isn't being followed, then thats an issue that definately needs addressing, but the underlying law is already there.

Since we've been planning this adoption for so long, I've already saved almost 9 full weeks of time I can take off at full pay. My husband has 5 at full pay. And both our employers are governed by the FMLA, so we could each take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. That's close to 9 months we can be home full-time if it's needed. We just have to watch the budget.

[echaos]

In Canada we get 8 months off at 55% of our wage. Some employers will top up the 55% up to 100% (mine didn't!) The 8 months can be split between both parents, 2 off together for 4 months, 1 off for 3 months and the other off for 5, etc... This is the same amount of time off that men can take for parental leave. A woman who gives birth can take up to 1 year, 8 months parental leave, and 4 months medical maternity leave.

[Mommy2amiracle]

Hi!

I work for a Fortune 500 company and they reimbursed up to 10k which is nontaxable for adoption expenses. I received 1 week paid leave and then took 64 hours of illness in the family leave since my son was a micropreemie. I had only worked in my position for 1 month prior to placement so I was not eligible for FMLA

I live in Indiana and it is the law that for medical insurance reasons that time of placement is birth so the baby is covered from the moment it is born. Thank goodness for that because our son was in the NICU for 5 weeks!!!

Mommy2amiracle