Employee Benefits

Bpmg

Hi there -

We are planning ahead trying to be as ready as we can for when baby comes. In looking into benefits from my employer to try and figure out financial impact.

Unfortunately we do not qualify for the adoption assistance benefit (financial reimbursement) at my company. I will have FMLA benefit, although that does not have a monetary value. I need to use my vacation time for any leave. I just always assumed there was some benefit available for adoption that would equate to short term disability you get when you have a baby ? but I was wrong on that!

Just curious what anyone else?s experience is/was like.

 

Dr.Loretta

Your experience is pretty typical. Many employers don't think you need STD because you're not recovering from childbirth, and don't consider the fact that you still need to bond with a child. And many employers have pretty crappy maternity leave policies period.

Fortunately for us, both of our companies had adoption reimbursement. DH's company was approached by some adoptive parents not long after we started the process, and they kicked up the reimbursement to $10K! You had to pay it back if you left before 2 years were up, but they got rid of that last year. My company had a $5K reimbursement, but we didn't use it. I left not long after DD came home.

I got FMLA, and was also eligible for a pseudo-STD plan during part of my leave. It was offered across the board for all parents, not just those who gave birth. The benefit was part of my state's payroll tax.

DH got no paternity leave, which kind of sucked, but all in all we were OK with it.

There have been some people here who have successfully lobbied to get adoption reimbursement programs established at their companies.

Allie-Jo

The company I work at is pretty small, and even if I were to give birth, my mat. leave would be unpaid, but I would have up to 12 weeks FMLA.  There is a 1.5k reimbursment here, which I will more then likely take.  DH also works for a small mom-and-pop shop type comany, so they are more then ok with him taking as much time off as he wants/needs, but it will be all unpaid.  One of the ickies about moving from a huge bank to small companies

IRR

fredalina:

My company has no paid time off for nonbirthers, just through STD like most. They do have a reimbursement but we foster adopted so it didn't apply. They also have some unique language and adoptive parents have to get "exception" for some things like Family Day, and they exclude foster kids.

 

Amazing how unadoptive/foster friendly places are.  I called Delta based on info from you ladies and their international adoption program.  They don't have a US program and won't even consider it.  Crazy. 

Bpmg

Thanks everyone.

I am prettry bent out of shape about not getting any STD. It just doesnt seem right. I basically just get to use my vacation time (geee...thanks!) My company mirrors the IRS with eligibility for the adoption benefit. We do not wualify for the deduction, and hence do not qualify for my company's benefits.

I have been getting really frustrated with the financial aspects of this - I mean, it is not something I ever wanted to put a dollar amount on as a deal breaker (and I wont, we will find a way,) but geez... I could use a break!