Hi everyone,
I just started a lobbying effort on this topic! I'm pasting the email I sent to my company's President/CEO below. I'm not stopping there. I'm contacting my state's Congressional delegation and state legislators as well. This is a matter of equality. If a company allows paid leave for those who have biological children, it should afford the same benefits to those who adopt!
Feel free to steal my letter and use it to light your own fire!!!
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Dear Mr. ??????
As an employee of ???? for more than nine years I’ve been grateful for the generous benefits offered by the company. Those benefits have only improved under ?????’s ownership. I’m hoping that means the company will be open to exploring adding benefits for adoptive parents. I’ve recently learned that while I will be able to use the Family Medical Leave Act to spend time with a newly adopted child, the leave will be unpaid – unlike leave that would be afforded to me if I gave birth to a child.
Many successful companies offer different types of adoption benefits to their employees. The Dave Thomas Foundation recognizes them every year: https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/what-we-do/adoption-friendly-workplace/2013-best-adoption-friendly-workplaces/2013-best-adoption-friendly-workplaces-top-100/
There are many reasons adoption benefits make sense, not the least of which is establishing equity. Such programs also build employee loyalty and goodwill even though studies show less than one percent of an employee population takes advantage of them.
Adoption is expensive. My husband and I have learned we will have to find a way to finance $20,000 (on the low end) to as much as $40,000 or even $50,000 to complete a domestic adoption. Having our family recognized in the same way “traditional” ones are in terms of employee benefits would certainly help us make this dream a reality.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
