Does your employer offer Adoption Benefits?
In workplaces all over North America there has been an increasing awareness of the need for adoption benefits to employees. Today more than one-third of companies in the United States offer their employees at least some benefits related to adoption. Canadian companies have been slower to introduce these benefits, but there is a positive trend especially among companies with American parent companies or affiliates.
These benefits vary from offering adoptive parental leave to topping up Employment Insurance (EI) payments and even adoption assistance reimbursement.
In many cases companies have not offered adoption benefits simply because it has not occurred to them. Surely the benefits of parental leave, EI top up and flexible work schedules apply equally to biological and adoptive parents! Check to see what benefits your company offers and if they aren’t adequate, advocate for change!
Websites to check out:
www.adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org (part of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption)
"How to Lobby Your Employer for Adoption Benefits" (an older but still helpful article)
For information on Employment Insurance Benefits see the Human Resources Development Canada website
Employment Insurance (EI) and maternity, parental and sickness benefits |