In March we posted updates that had been made to Employment Law, this included changes to Adoption Leave and Pay which came into effect from April 5th 2015.
The Government have now published detailed guidance for employers to be able to read about the changes. These changes have meant that people who are adopting are now entitled to statutory adoption pay to be paid at the earnings-related level for the first six weeks, which mirrors statutory maternity pay.
Employees and agency workers who are eligible, who have been with the company for 12 weeks are now entitled for time off to attend adoption meetings.
This includes people who are using a surrogacy arrangement as they are also entitled, if they intend to apply for a Parental Order which makes them the legal parents of the child (Parental Order parents).
Employees who are single adopters may be entitled for paid time off for up to give appointments. With joint adopters, one is entitled to paid time off to attend up to five adoption appointments and the other adopter is eligible for unpaid time off for up to two appointments.
In the case of joint adopters, if the adopter who took the paid time off for the adoption appointment wants to claim paternity leave and pay, they cannot claim it, which means that the parent who intends to be the one taking adoption leave and pay, should be the one who takes the paid time off.
Shared Parental Leave and Pay has been introduced in April 2015 as well. Adopters and their parents and Parental Order parents may be eligible for this scheme, you can find out more information here.
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