I am glad you started this topic. There are many issues that affect working Moms who adopt and this is only one of many. In my circumstance, I told my boss that we were planning on adopting after we attended the orientation with Abrazo. When you leave the weekend we were told to get ready because this was the beginning of our pregnacy. We knew that sometimes placements occurr very quickly. I had to tell my boss right away so we could develop a plan for my absence. My compnay is a small company ( only 100 employees) so FLMA was not an option. I was disheartened to find out that no paids benefits were offered. I worked closely with my team and prepared for the next six months. Ha! After 2 1/2 months we were parents! The time when I left was vey hectic so after placement I needed to work a couple more days! YUK! My leave was supposed to be 8 weeks but due to the circumstances of a premature birth and other medical conditions, I stayed a home for 5 months. I was able to work part time from my house and still have appointments with clients. The situation worked very well and my company learned so much about the adoption process. Although I had no financial support, they offered me emotional support. When we adopted the second time 2 years later, they knew what to expect and it has worked very well! I wish you well! If you have any more questions, please let me know.
Katharine