[HopefulMommy]

Anyone's company offer adoption benefits? Beyond the Family and medical leave act stuff?

There are actually some companies who offer up to $15,000 is assistance.

My DH's company does not (Yet). I received some information packets from the Dave Thomas Foundation and gave them to the Executive Secretary and the head of HR. They said they would look into it. (Working in a small subsidiary of a LARGE company helps to get the bug in the right ear.)

Heck the worst thing they can say is no, and the best thing would be to start a great benefit and take off a bit of financial burden. If it just pays for my FedExing what a blessing that would be!

You can order packets (they are free) and see the list of employers who offer benefits and what type they offer:

http://www.adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org/index.asp

This is part of the Dave Thomas Foundation.

I hope this helps

[Nichole98]

My company offers a $5000 reimbursment after the adoption is final. It's great that they offer this benefit but it would be nice to get it while we are in the process of the adoption.

[Jdubs03]

We are extremely lucky because both of our employers offer reimbursement. My hubby's company offers $5000 once the adoption is complete. My company will reimburse $10,000 since we use my benefits, and they reimburse as expenses are incurred, so that has been extremely helpful. We are SOOOOO lucky that we get this benefit, otherwise, we would have had to find creative ways to finance the adoption.

I think the "adoption" benefit is a newer concept. My husband's company introduced the benefit beginning in 2004, and my company didn't begin until 2004 or 2005. This being said, it seems as if you may be able to convince your company to "adopt" this benefit. The worse that could happen is they say no, but I think you have a good chance of convincing them!

Best of luck to you with this. It has been such a big help to us, and I think everyone should get that same opportunity!

[thebryantbunch]

My company only offers $2,500 after the adoption is final, but they also offer 2 weeks paid leave... not loads, but something that reduces the actual time without pay leave.

Hubby's company... didly squat.

Lisa B.

[sakelley]

My company offers $4000 for adoption assistance.

[Nichole98]

I also get 9 weeks off paid after the adoption is final and I get 5 weeks vacation time a year that I plan to save up.

[Happy2Bhere]

My husband & I both work for General Mills. They reimburse EACH of us $10,000 once the adoption is final, plus two weeks paid time off for both of us, and up to 12 week unpaid time off.
I agree- too bad they wouldn't pay as you go- it gets pretty expensive!
Considering that some get no reimbursement, I guess ANYTHING is great nowadays.
Melissa

[looneytunes32]

We get nothing. I work for a small company, I don't know if they could afford it. DH, however, works for a large babyfood company - Gerber - the 'corporate types' get adoption assistance but the people who actually make the babyfood don't get anything.

[Trace7]

I sent that Dave Thomas info to our HR dept, and they responded with "we are not a large enough company to offer benefits". We have 1000 employees. That seems large to me, but whatever! The Chairman and CEO of our company has an adopted daughter from China, too!

As far as leave benefits, of course we get 12 weeks off for FMLA, but only 2 weeks paid parental leave, and then the rest is floating holidays (of which we have two) and then PTO (of which I get about 5 weeks a year, but I can only carry over two weeks to next year - which is unfortunate because I have lots of PTO saved up for this year, but with a 11/22 LID, it's very hard to predict when we will travel - although I am assuming not until 2007). Once PTO and floating holidays are used, we can also borrow up to 100 hours of PTO not yet accrued or we can take time off unpaid. So I may be able to have all 12 weeks off.

[TeriInAZ]

Just checked the list and my company offers reimbursement and paid time off, this makes me very happy!!!

[jjnanj]

There are no benefits for me nor my wife. we financed it through 401k loans, and will burn up our vacation and sick days for the travel over to China.

It is definitely tough, I have been selling a lot of my sports card collection also. Sometimes sacrifices need to be made, and we believe that Karma will come back to us for trying to help out a little cutie...if not, then at least we will have a beautiful little smile to wake up to every morning.

Good luck to all in their journey's!

[specialk4b]

My husband is military and they will reimburse up to $2000 of adoption expenses. My company allows for leave under FMLA.

[NeshRoo]

DH's company will reimburse us 3000, and I work for the State, so nada for me, but I can pretty much tell them when I want off, and I get it (plus all my leave is basically paid for, since I'm on salary!!).
HopefulMommy -I think sharing this information was a great idea!! If people don't know what their company's policy is, it is really good to look into it, and you might be surprised!

[VAMom2Be]

My husband's company has $5000 reimbursement of adoption costs once the adoption is final. They paid it within 3 weeks of our return home!

[megaphonemo]

dropping in from the domestic adoption front... My company offers $3K, and DH's offers $5K.... Makes us happy!! Only eligible once you finalize, which for us was 2 weeks ago!! Gotta get the paperwork in soon!!


Mega