Rights at work

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

Hi folks,

I've got another question, sorry if it's already been covered.

Do prospective adoptive parents have legal rights to time off work? I know pregnant women are entitled to time off for hospital appointments, makes me wonder what rights for leave we have for attending prep groups etc.

Thanks.

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

Should have said based in Scotland.

[TeamAcorn]

It changed this year. Got to be honest don't know if this applies in England only or whole of GB. Does someone know?

"Eligible employees and agency workers with 12 weeks service are now entitled to time off to attend adoption meetings. The time off to attend adoption appointment must be taken in the period between being notified of a match with a child and the date that the child joins the family. Single adopters are entitled to paid time off to attend up to 5 adoption appointments. In the case of joint adoptions (i.e. a couple who have been jointly matched to adopt a child) one of the adopters will be entitled to paid time off to attend up to 5 adoption appointments. The other adopter may be entitled to unpaid time off to attend up to 2 adoption appointments. Where there are joint adopters, the adopter who took paid time off to attend adoption appointments cannot claim paternity leave and pay. This means that the parent who intends to take adoption leave and pay is likely to take the paid time off and the other parent is likely to take the unpaid time off.

So essentially you'll still need to take annual leave for the training courses etc. because they'll be before you've been matched.

Interestingly we had only one meeting, regarding intros, post matching certificate that I needed time off for but was then off on leave from day 1 of intros so not that helpful. Partner, who returned to work, could easily have used his 2 between review meetings and getting the AO itself in court. I do wonder if I could have used it for first 5 days of intros at foster carers if that was classed as 5 meetings?!?!

[neomamma]

Hi! it is uk-wide legislation. try the gov.uk or working families websites if unsure

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

Hey, yeah I seen that info of new legislation, which seems fair but thought I might have been missing something for rights before a match is made. We've had initial meet, medicals, and 3 dates next month to attend prep groups before formal application. I'll have a read at working families website too.

I'll let you know what my HR department come back with.

[TeamAcorn]

With mine and partner's employers it had to all be done as annual leave but I suppose it will be at discretion of company you work for. All our AL went on adoption related stuff for nearly a year (including some for intros mind you). Good luck, hope you find it to be different with where you work!

[MintyLizzy9]

Yes you do. It's a day one right since apr this year and you can have paid time off for up to 7 or 8 appointments (up to 6.5 hours each I think). If you Google IT teh government website has been updated or you may find the ACAS website more user friendly.

[TeamAcorn]

Dont know about that Minty??? Gov.uk says...

Adoption leave is a day one right, the time for meetings isn't, it's 12 weeks.....

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419080/bis-15-259-changes-to-adoption-leave-and-pay-from-5-april-2015-technical-guidance-for-employers.pdf&ved=0CBwQFjAAahUKEwilyPeT4pHHAhXFCSwKHbn8DPw&usg=AFQjCNHR-00Oh9qFbkFYknFIlQGdEXgHgA&sig2=6yUDWirhgcCm6l1bfSxCgg" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419080/bis-15-259-changes-to-adoption-leave-and-pay-from-5-april-2015-technical-guidance-for-employers.pdf&ved=0CBwQFjAAahUKEwilyPeT4pHHAhXFCSwKHbn8DPw&usg=AFQjCNHR-00Oh9qFbkFYknFIlQGdEXgHgA&sig2=6yUDWirhgcCm6l1bfSxCgg

That gov.uk document says...

Time off to attend adoption appointments:

Eligible employees and agency workers with 12 weeks service are now entitled to time off to attend adoption appointments in the period between being notified of a match and the child being placed with the family for adoption:

â?¢ Single adopters are entitled to paid time off to attend up to 5 adoption appointments.

â?¢ In the case of joint adoptions (i.e. a couple who have been jointly matched to adopt the child) one of the adopters will be entitled to paid time off to attend up to 5 adoption appointments. The other adopter may be entitled to unpaid time off work to attend up to 2 adoption appointments.

Up to 6.5 hours is allowed for each appointment.

[TeamAcorn]

Excuse weird long link....its from my phone not laptop!

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

From time of match seems to be the info out there. Still waiting on a reply from our hr business partner in the hope they might give us some time. My boss has said he'll facilitate shift swaps and rest day swaps where possible to save on unpaid leave or using annual leave. I'll update with hr's response.

[MintyLizzy9]

I think the 12 weeks only applies to agency workers as after 12 weeks they can't be treated differently to direct employees. It's about as clear as mud!!

[TeamAcorn]

Ah yes can see that now I've re read it after you've said that. jeez they could do with some better wording!

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

HR got back to me and right enough only entitled to 5X 6.5 hr paid leave for meetings after a match has been made. Beforehand it'll need to be annual leave or unpaid leave for the time.

I'm really surprised, I genuinely thought adopters had the same rights to leave from the first day of the journey to adopting. Hopefully with my shift I can work round this but for those who work 9-5 must really struggle with this.

[TeamAcorn]

I think it's hardest on the partner. I used up a lot of annual leave but then I could afford to as had year off with children. DH used loads up on assessments etc and then had so little to actually take with the children, so wrong :(

[Chocogoingcuckoo]

It is so wrong!