Adoption leave

[Italiangreyhound]

Please can anyone tell me...

The differences between adoption and maternity leave pay and entitlement.

Any plans for this to change and the two to become equal?

How to effectively talk to my employers to see if they would voluntarily agree to my terms for adoption leave being the same as maternity leave, please?

Thanks so much.

Hi Italian
I think that the main difference is that employers can choose if they want to offer statutory adoption leave or the same rights as maternity leave
My company only offered the statutes leave .....

There was a thread on here but can't find it!

There's something on the First4Adoption site that talks about the planned changes, and a link to a full description.

I'm not sure if that's exactly what you need?

First4Adoption

Does your company offer the basic minimum for maternity or do they upgrade it?

The minimum for adoption is less than the minimum for maternity.

But to me if they upgrade maternity there is no good reason for them to not upgrade adoption too to be equal.

A few years back I got my employers (large multinational) to change their adoption policy. I think I used the phrase "discriminatory to those who for medical reasons or sexuality form their familiy another way" .
(ps I know those aren't the only reasons to adopt).

I found this here....

3 May 2013

First4Adoption and the Department for Education are today publishing a new guide to the support available for people who have adopted a child.

The guide, which is being published on the First4Adoption website, brings together the latest information about the entitlements and support that may be available for adoptive parents and their children. It also includes information about the proposed changes to Statutory Adoption Pay.

at www.first4adoption.org.uk/news/first4adoption-and-department-for-education-publish-guide-to-support-for-adopters/

At the bottom of the page you can download the passport and it says this......

For you as an adopter…
Many adopters are entitled to adoption leave and pay when their child is placed with them
www.gov.uk/adoption-pay-leave. The law is changing to make this entitlement more similar
to maternity and paternity leave pay, and it will include the right to take time off when you are
meeting your child, before they move in with you.

I found various bits in the document but still not sure what the changes are!

Thanks so much, Drspouse and TeenandTween.

You asked Does your company offer the basic minimum for maternity or do they upgrade it? Not sure! Is this significant to adoption leave? I can try and find out.

Mine is a very small company and not a large multinational (wonder if this will make a difference?).

Interesting "discriminatory to those who for medical reasons or sexuality form their family another way" .

That is very relevant in once sense, it was for medical reasons, partly, although we also wanted to adopt! But good point.

Can I ask, it says "Statutory Adoption Leave

Within 7 days of being matched with a child you must tell your employer:

how much leave you want
your leave start date
the ‘date of placement’ - the date the child is placed with you

Your employer can ask for this in writing and for proof of the adoption.

Your employer must confirm within 28 days your leave start and end dates."

Does that mean within 7 days of you saying yes to a match, so before panel etc?

The timing starts after the 'rubber stamping by the boss' (sorry can't remember the official wording) after matching panel. This can be up to 2 weeks later (if I remember rightly).

Unless the wording is changed there is an 'or as soon as is practical' or some such, as often intros start very soon after panel so you may not get as much notice as you would like!

If you are on good terms with work, forewarning them you are off to panel would be nice, but you would need to stress it is not official notification, nor a done deal until after the panel. Things do get stopped or held up.

I'll always remember the looks on the faces of my team members (all male). I told them I was adopting (small amount of interest) ... and that I had 4 more working days until I stopped (panic ). I had got it all sorted out with my team leader in advance though, and we had been putting contingency plans in on the quiet for 6 months.

Under current rules, I think, the person taking the main adoption leave can start this prior to placement (moving in), but the person taking the 2 weeks 'paternity' leave can only take this on or after placement date. I stopped a week before intros started so I could get my head out of 'work mode' and into 'mummy mode'.

Thanks TeenAndTween that is very helpful.

The 'rubber stamp' is the agency decision maker ratifying the panels recommendation.
Once they have this your social worker can give you a matching certificate which is the official piece of paper needed by your employer.

I'd keep your employer in the know as you will need time off for meetings etc and panel!

Hi Italian, i'm currently going through this with my employers. Adoptive parents do not currently have the same entitlements as biological parents. There is currently legislation going through parliament as part of the Children and Families bill to make it equal.

These are all useful links i used in my argument for equal pay.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/219658/Children_20and_20Families_20Bill_202013.pdf - page 22

services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/childrenandfamilies.html

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/88476/13-619-modern-workplaces-shared-parental-leave-and-pay-administration-consultation.pdf

www.xperthr.co.uk/editors-choice/government-launches-consultation-on-the-administration-of-shared-parental-leave-and-pay/115552/

www.mablaw.com/2013/02/children-and-families-bill-will-create-more-rights-for-employees-shared-parental-leave-flexible-working-ante-natal-adoption/

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/88476/13-619-modern-workplaces-shared-parental-leave-and-pay-administration-consultation.pdf

www.hmrc.gov.uk/helpsheets/e16.pdf

www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/recruitment/adoption.pdf

www.hr-legal.co.uk/Adoption%20Leave.php

I'm still waiting to hear if i was successful as it had to go to the board as it was a policy change. My management team were fully supportive of it though, i just jumped right in and told them what was going on and what i wanted.

If you need it i'd be happy to share my letter to the board.

Good luck!

thanks, tea4two4three have pmed you.

Maternity - entitled to from day one. First 6 wks...90% of pay. Next 33 wks, £136 odd a week.

Adoption - have to have worked for employer for 26 wks to qualify. Straight to £136 a wk... No 90% of pay for first 6 wks.

Plans to make the two the same, but not till 2015

Thanks SPSJSAT, is there anywhere on line that says when in 2015 they will become equal, please?

www.familylaw.co.uk/articles/Adopters-parental-leave-20112012-987

www.familylaw.co.uk/articles/Adopters-parental-leave-20112012-987

SPS, I think maternity you also have to have worked for 26 weeks before the qualifying week although maternity allowance is an alternative but that doesn't come with the 90% of pay either.

OP, if your company pays any enhancement over statutory for maternity then that can't be reclaimed by them and therefore is a benefit they might also pay to you. If they only pay statutory for maternity they are more likely to pay it for everything as they only pay what they can reclaim.

dera.ioe.ac.uk/16299/2/adoption%20support.pdf

Sorry, forgot to convert links

They may not be entitled to pay... But they are entitled to leave.

Have a look here:

www.gov.uk/maternity-paternity-calculator/y

Calculates adoption leave and maternity/paternity.

It's a minefield.

The second mine field I am negotiating!

Ah, I see, thanks.