Employers are increasingly offering paid time off for adoptions, according to a new report from consulting group Mercer. The benefit is likely an attempt to meet the needs of a workforce in which the definition of “family” now includes same-sex parents, the firm said.
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While employees in the U.S. have access to 12 weeks’ unpaid leave for adoptions if they meet the Family and Medical Leave Act’s (FMLA) eligibility requirements, companies are beginning to provide more generous leave, Mercer said in its 2016 Global Parental Leave report.
The report is based on findings from a study that surveyed companies around the globe. The survey revealed that in countries with generous mandated leave, such as those in Western Europe, employers merely rely on the applicable law. But in other countries, like the U.S., companies have “filled the void” with paid time off.
Globally, 29% of employers said they provide adoption leave above relevant statutory requirements. Countries in the Americas rank higher at 33%. The practice is seen least often in Asia Pacific, with only 22% of employers offering more than statutory minimums.
The new ‘family’
Providing leave for all parents is a way to accommodate increasingly varied families, Mercer said, noting that 87% of companies said they handle leave for same-sex couples in exactly the same way as they do for opposite-sex couples.
“Adoption leave, like other leaves, helps employers accommodate more diverse family structures, which are now commonplace among their employee population,” said Ilya Bonic, senior partner and president of Mercer’s talent business, in a statement.
And employers are taking these steps despite the lack of government mandates. While many countries require paid maternity leave, fewer require the same for fathers, same-sex couples, or adoptive parents. “Regardless, some companies, faced with the challenge to attract and retain key talent, have begun to offer paid or nonpaid time away in these less common—but growing—circumstances,” the report’s executive summary says.
And using benefits like paid time off for adoption as a recruiting and retention tool may be working, Mercer said. In its 2015 employee survey, the firm found that 66% of workers said benefits make them feel appreciated by their company. Sixty-three percent said that benefits were one of the reasons they work for their current employer.
The infographic below highlights more findings from this survey. Click on the image for a larger view.
