The adoption process is time-consuming, emotionally taxing and financially demanding at times. At the core of it all, though, adoption differs very little from the experiences of a woman who has just given birth. This is why, as of 2007, just under 500 of a thousand of the biggest corporate companies in America offer employer adoption benefits. These benefits allow a working woman or man to take the time to bond with the adopted child and integrate their lifestyle with their newest addition.
Depending on the company, adoption benefits come in the form of financial assistance and reimbursement for adoption expenses and fees. This may include paid leave, reimbursements and referral services. The most common reimbursements are for adoption fees, court costs, medical fees, birth mother expenses and counseling, temporary foster care and transportation, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway. The minimum maternity leave outlined by federal regulation is 12 weeks. However, adoption benefits are regulated by each business.
Some parents may even rely on their companies to afford the adoption costs. Supplying this aid can make a company more competitive while also giving the company a capitalistic edge.Most employer adoption benefits are to the benefit of the company, according to research reported by the Institute for Women's Policy Research. Women who receive adoption and maternity benefits cost hundreds of billions of dollars less in annual lost earnings.