How much time off am I entitled to?
If you’re in a couple and you intend to share parental responsibility, you will need to decide who will be the ‘primary person’ as this will dictate the leave and pay arrangements each partner is entitled to. If you are the ‘primary person’, you are entitled to 52 weeks adoption leave, regardless of your length of service, job role and working hours, etc. This is made up of 26 weeks ordinary adoption leave and 26 weeks additional adoption leave. You may also consider Shared Parental Leave as an option, which effectively enables you to share your adoption leave entitlement with your partner. If you are the partner in a joint adoption (regardless of gender), you are entitled to paternity leave (maximum of two weeks), subject to eligibility.
If you are expecting two (or more) babies as part of the same surrogacy agreement, your entitlement to adoption or paternity leave and pay is the same (as if you were only expecting one baby).
How do I notify you about when I would like my adoption or paternity leave to start?
If you are the ‘primary person’ and intend to request adoption leave, you must notify us via Zellis Employee Self Service (Your Family Leave > Adoption Leave Request) by the end of the Qualifying Week. If you are the other partner and intend to request paternity leave, you must notify us via Zellis Employee Self Service (Your Family Leave > Paternity Leave Request) within the same timescale. You will be asked to confirm the Expected Week of Confinement and the date you would like your adoption or paternity leave to start. You can change this, as long as you let us know within 28 days of (the earlier of) the original or revised date.
When could my adoption or paternity leave start?
Adoption or paternity leave in these circumstances can start from the day the baby is born or the following day (this is the same should the baby be born overseas). Your period of adoption or paternity leave will start earlier if the baby is born before your preferred start date. All other details relating to paternity leave can be found here, Paternity. If you would like to speak with somebody prior to submitting the form, you can have a chat with your line manager or contact the People Team.
Do I have to provide any further information to be eligible for adoption or paternity leave and pay?
We may ask for you a written statement (‘statutory declaration’) to confirm that, in the 6 months after the baby’s birth, you intend to apply for a parental order. If neither you or your partner (if you’re in a couple) are the biological parent of the baby, you will need to confirm your intention to apply for an adoption order (or similar). This needs to be signed in the presence of a legal professional.
Do I have to take 52 weeks off work (adoption leave)?
No. However, it is compulsory for you to take two weeks adoption leave. Thereafter, you can choose how long you would like to take off work (either as adoption leave or Shared Parental Leave).
Can I take holiday before my adoption leave starts?
You should use any outstanding and accrued holiday before you go on adoption leave. You might request to take holiday before your adoption leave starts to extend your total period of leave. Please discuss your request with your line manager.
Do I accrue holiday whilst I am on adoption leave?
Yes.
Do the terms & conditions of my employment continue whilst I’m on adoption leave?
You’ll continue to receive your contractual benefits whilst you are on adoption leave. Please see the 'Returning to Work' section below for further details regarding your job role with our co-op.
My baby was born early and requires neonatal care. Do you offer any additional support?
For each full week that your baby is in neonatal care, we will grant an additional week’s leave and pay, up to a maximum of two weeks. Please advise your line manager or the People Team as soon as possible should these circumstances apply to you. You do not need to meet any service or earnings criteria to be eligible for this leave and pay. Please note that we are unable to ‘interrupt’ adoption leave to grant this additional paid leave. In this instance, this additional paid leave will be administered at the end of your adoption leave.