Entitlement to take statutory adoption leave

[ch 4: pages 35-36]

An employee can take up to 52 weeks of Statutory Adoption Leave if they:

• are employed and not for example self-employed or a worker: and

• are the person adopting the child (only one parent can take Ordinary Adoption Leave and Additional Adoption Leave);

• have been continuously employed for at least 26 weeks (qualifying weeks) by the same employer in the week that they are notified that they have been matched with a child (though this will change after 5 April 2015);

• have provided proof of the adoption (where the employer has asked for it):

• have given correct notice of intention to take statutory adoption leave.

During this time the employee can take up to 10 Keeping in Touch (KIT) days, provided that the employer agrees. There is no automatic right to contractual pay but reps can try to negotiate this with the employer.

Statutory Adoption Leave (SAL) is divided into two sections. The first 26 weeks are called Ordinary Adoption Leave (OAL) and the second 26 weeks are called Additional Adoption Leave (AAL). During this time 39 weeks of Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) may be available for those that are entitled to it.