Adoption Benefits Increasing in Prevalence

Adoption assistance is becoming an increasingly popular benefit.  This trend is addressed in an article "Adoption Policies that Work for Your Company" in the January 2008 issue of WorldatWork's workspan magazine.

The article notes that adoption assistance benefits vary substantially, and outlines example policies offered by companies on the 2006 listing of Working Mother magazine's Top 100 companies (of which 92% offer some adoption assistance policies):

Abbott Laboratories - Up to $10,000 in adoption reimbursement with no limit on number of adoptions per family; two weeks' paid leave for travel and bonding with child.

Avon Products Inc. - $10,000 average adoption reimbursement; eight weeks of fully paid leave for adoption (same as birthmothers receive).  Secondary caregivers (including dads) are given two weeks of paid leave following the birth or adoption of a child.

Bank of America - Up to 26 weeks of parental leave, with eight of those weeks fully paid (for all new moms with at least 1 year of service); up to $8,000 in reimbursements per child.

Eli Lilly and Co. - Up to 64 job-guaranteed weeks off (15 months), with one fully paid (after one year of service); $10,000 average adoption reimbursement.

Fannie Mae - Resource and referral service to investigate adoption options; $10,000 average adoption reimbursement; four weeks of fully paid leave for new adoptive parents.

Timberland Co. - $12,000 adoption reimbursement; two weeks of fully paid leave for new adoptive parents.

Verizon Communications/Verizon Wireless - $10,000 in adoption reimbursement; adoptive parents can phase back into work on a reduced schedule and keep full benefits.