Time Off for Adoption Appointments

1. Introduction

This policy outlines the statutory right to take time off to attend adoption appointments.

This policy applies to employees and agency workers. It does not apply to self-employed contractors.

For agency workers, the rights set out in this policy only apply once they have worked in the same role with the Company for at least 12 continuous weeks (which may include more than one assignment). For these purposes the Company will ignore any breaks due to holiday or other leave to which they are entitled, breaks due to workplace closure, breaks due to industrial action, breaks of up to 28 weeks in cases of sickness or jury service, and breaks of up to six weeks for any other reason.

The Company will treat breaks due to pregnancy or childbirth up to 26 weeks after birth, and any statutory maternity, paternity or adoption leave, as time worked.

This policy does not form part of any employee's contract of employment and may be amended at any time.

2. Time off for an adoption appointment

An adoption appointment is an appointment arranged by an adoption agency (or at the agency's request) for an individual to have contact with a child who is to be placed with them for adoption, or for any other purpose related to the adoption.

An employee may take time off to attend an adoption appointment once the agency has notified that a child is to be placed with them for adoption but before the child is actually placed with them.

3. If you are adopting a child with another person

Where an employee and their partner are adopting a child, they must decide who will be treated as the primary adopter and who will be treated as the secondary adopter for the purposes of time off.

The individual must advise the Company of their decision the first time they request time off for an adoption appointment. This will affect how much time they can take off and whether it is paid or not.

An individual would usually choose to be the primary adopter if they intend to take adoption leave when the child is placed with them. An employee would not be able to take paternity leave if they have elected to be the primary adopter.

Alternatively, an employee would usually choose to be the secondary adopter if they intend to take paternity leave when the child is placed with them, although they may be able to take adoption leave if their partner is not taking it.

4. If an employee is adopting a child alone

If an employee is adopting a child alone, they are treated as the primary adopter.

5. If an employee is adopting more than one child

If the agency is placing more than one child with an employee as part of the same arrangement, this is treated as one adoption and will not increase the number of appointments they can take time off to attend. Any time off under this policy must be taken before the first child is placed with the individual.

6. Amount of time off

If an individual is adopting on their own or have elected to be the primary adopter, they may take paid time off to attend an adoption appointment on up to 5 occasions in relation to any particular adoption.

If they are the secondary adopter, they may take unpaid time off to attend an adoption appointment on up to 2 occasions only.

An employee must not take more than six and a half hours off for each appointment, including travel and waiting time.

7. How to book time off

The individual must give as much notice of the appointment as possible to their line manager. They must provide the Company with a signed statement confirming the following:

• That the appointment has been arranged or requested by the adoption agency.
• Whether they are adopting a child alone or jointly with another person.
• If they are adopting with another person, whether they are electing to take paid or unpaid time off.

Agency workers you have to notify their agency as well.