Supporting Adoptive Parents at Work
November is Adoption Awareness Month
So, this month we’re sharing an excerpt from our Manager Toolkit about how to support adoptive parents at work.
There are many paths to parenthood, including adoption and surrogacy. Having a plan to support those families will benefit you and your employees as they seek to grow their families.
There is a serious and growing demand for adoption benefits in the workplace as more families continue to be created through non-biological methods. Employers implement adoption-friendly policies because they care about their employees and see the provision of adoption benefits as “the right thing to do.” Let us talk about ways you can help employees throughout their adoption journey.
Remain flexible. Be mindful that adoptive parents may need a flexible work schedule to address pre- and post-adoption requirements and challenges. By making flexible work options more readily available for all workers, both men, and women, the friction between work and life that affects many parents is reduced.
Review available leave options. No time like the present to re-evaluate leave policies to support growing families. Talk with your employee about the different leave options available to them. The adoption journey is a complex process and can take several years. Phased leave options are beneficial before and after placement to help parents and children bond and readjust to a work schedule. Paid leave allows adoptive families to complete necessary trips to facilitate an adoption, as well as post-placement parental leave. Additional unpaid leave on top of the 12 weeks required by the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), commonly between a week and a year offers bonding time for parents and children as well.
Prioritize a supportive work environment. The best thing any manager can do is promote an empathetic work environment that recognizes that every working parent is different and their goals and needs will also be different. Celebrate when employees adopt, just as you would when employees give birth. Educate employees about adoption with workshops, reading materials, and EAP programs that are available. Encourage employees to engage with BenefitBump’s Adoption Support Program.
Workplaces throughout the world are beginning to address the need for more inclusive benefits packages, including policies for those who will create a family through adoption. BenefitBump is here to help guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have regarding adoption assistance programs and how you can support your employees who adopt.
For more information on creating an adoption-friendly workplace, please visit:
https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/our-programs/adoption-friendly-workplace/
When Returning To Work, New Mothers Are Lacking Significant Support. (forbes.com)
Download the Manager Toolkit to share with your organization: Employer Resources — Benefit Bump.