Sara

good for you for writing this letter... and definitely talk to your employer. i was very vocal about expressing my displeasure at the lack of paid family leave for ALL parents right before the birth of our second (jayden). we previously had a system whereby all employees were entitled to fmla (sixteen weeks of leave guaranteed, though it would be unpaid if the employee didn't have vacation time). mothers who had given birth were entitled to use some sick and disability leave, which wasn't an option for me (or for any father). personally, i think this is perfectly reasonable -- i didn't, after all, need to recover from delivery or a c-section. i don't think i can necessarily take the credit for it, but my employer did switch over to a family leave policy, whereby all new parents were entitled to four weeks of paid leave. i think the plan was in the works for awhile, but my situation just put it to the top of everyone's mind. (any additional time off had to be "paid" for with vacation time, or taken unpaid). so, definitely have a frank conversation with hr... you never know

Welcome baby Kayla... and congratulations to all who love this sweet baby girl!

Welcome to the world, Eniah Jane! What a beautiful family photo in the gallery -- congratulations to all who love you!

Welcome to the world, Baby Hudson! Congratulations to all!

Welcome little one! And congratulations to all!

Congratulations to the newest family... welcome Neveah!

Welcome to the world Julian and Jeweleah! Congratulations to all who love you!

Couldn't agree more. I don't actually believe that employers should provide separate adoption leave, BUT I do believe that they should offer comprehensive family leave programs so that people don't need to choose between their new babies, sick family members, elderly parents and their jobs / mortgages / financial stability. And family leave should be made available (and used by) women AND men: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/01/the-daddy-track/355746/

I work for a small institution affiliated with a large university -- When we took placement of Gavin, they offered no family leave... only unpaid leave through FMLA. Women who give birth are entitled to use a few weeks of sick leave / short-term disability during their maternity leave, but otherwise all leave was either unpaid or vacation time. While I was on leave with Gavin (I took sixteen weeks -- most was paid, because I saved my vacation time), the institution created a family leave policy. I believe everyone now receives one week at full pay, then up to four weeks of additional time (at a certain percentage of their salary, depending on time with the institution). The family leave can be used to care for children (however they enter one's family), a sick relative, an agin parent, etc. I don't know anyone who has received a significant amount of paid time off -- i.e., not disability pay, sick time, vacation time. I was also able to get a small "grant" to cover adoption costs from my employer. But I really had to dig around to discover that this benefit existed... it was offered through the university, and the benefits staff at my institution weren't even aware it existed (until I told them about it). So dig around a bit...

congratulations, and welcome to the world abby!

best wishes to *both* families as they make decisions and preparations!

did i detect a hint in another thread? (if so, nicely done!)

how exciting... we are thinking of this very special family!

Welcome Avery! Congratulations to the new family!

Welcome Amelia! Congratulations to all who love this beautiful baby girl!