16/ Adoption Leave & Pay

ADOPTION - APPOINTMENTS

If you have been notified by an approved adoption agency that a child is being or is expected to be placed with you for adoption, you may take paid time off work to attend up to 5 adoption appointments, arranged/requested by the agency ahead of the placement of the child.

If you are jointly adopting a child, the primary/main adopter (i.e. the employee electing to take adoption leave) may take paid time off work to attend up to 5 appointments and the secondary adopter may take unpaid time off work to attend up to 2 appointments.

If you are the secondary adopter, you will not receive payment for this time off.

The purpose of the appointment must be to have contact with the child or for any other purpose connected to the adoption.

The maximum time off work permitted per appointment is 6.5 hours.

The Company may allow additional time off work to attend further appointments at its absolute discretion. You will not receive payment for this time off.

If requested you must provide a declaration confirming the appointment is in connection with the adoption and has been arranged/requested by the adoption agency, as well as an appointment card.

ADOPTION - LEAVE

If you are adopting a child and you meet certain qualifying conditions you have the right to take 52 weeks' adoption leave.

Employees may be eligible for adoption leave if they:

●       have been notified by an approved adoption agency that they have been matched with a child and have confirmed the placement with the agency, or

●       are or expect to be the parent of a child under a parental order, or

●       are local authority parents who are prospective adopters

You must notify the Company of your intention to take adoption leave within 7 days of being notified that you have been matched with a child for adoption.  Your notification should include the date on which the child is expected to be placed with you for adoption, when you wish your adoption leave to start and how much leave you wish to take. You may be asked to provide documentary evidence of the match from the adoption agency.

You may commence your adoption leave from the date of the placement of the child or at any time within 14 days prior to the placement. You can change the start date by giving 28 days’ notice prior to the original commencement date. Adoption leave cannot start after the date on which the child is placed with you for adoption.

The qualifying conditions are slightly different if you are adopting a child from abroad. If you are considering adopting a child from abroad, please seek further information from your Line Manager.

During the 52 week adoption leave period all contractual benefits except for your pay will be maintained as if you were not absent.

If you wish to return to work before the end of the 52 week period of adoption leave you must give at least 8 weeks’ notice of your intended date of return.

If you decide to return to work early and this is at the end of the first 26 week period known as “ordinary adoption leave” you are entitled to return to the job you were in before your absence.  If you return to work either during or at the end of the second period of 26 weeks known as ’additional adoption leave’, you may be able to return to your original job (or another job which is suitable and appropriate).

ADOPTION - KEEPING IN TOUCH DAYS

During adoption leave, you are entitled to up to 10 ‘Keeping in Touch Days’. These are days when you may work for the Company without bringing your adoption leave to an end.  Work can be any work under your contract of employment and may include any training or activity undertaken with the purpose of keeping in touch in the workplace. Working up to 10 KIT days will have no effect on any entitlement to Statutory Adoption Pay. KIT days do not act to extend your period of adoption leave.

Any payment for these days will depend on the type of work, training or activity and will be agreed between you and the Company. For further details please refer to management.

ADOPTION - STATUTORY ADOPTION PAY (SAP)

You will receive SAP during your adoption leave in accordance with the statutory provisions provided you meet the qualifying criteria.  You must therefore:

●       have been continuously employed for at least 26 weeks ending with the date you are matched with a child.

●       have average weekly earnings of not less than the figure set by the Government for the payment of National Insurance contributions.

●       have met the notification requirements set out above in relation to taking adoption leave.

●       have provided the Company with evidence of the adoption.

Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) is payable for up to 39 weeks. For the first six weeks SAP is payable at the earnings related rate (equivalent to 90% of earnings) and for the remaining 33 weeks at the statutory rate as set by the Government, (or 90% of average weekly earnings if this is less than the standard rate). The final 13 weeks of the maximum adoption leave period are unpaid.

The above information is given for guidance purposes only and confers no extra rights to you beyond those provided by statute.