New rights to time off for prospective adoptees

From 5 April 2015, new rules allow prospective adopters to take paid time off for adoption appointments for the purpose of having contact with the child, or for any other purpose connected with the adoption.

The right is available to employees from the start of the employment and to qualifying agency workers after 12 weeks doing the same kind of job for the same hirer.

A single adopter can take paid time off for up to five adoption appointments. Joint adopters can choose one person — the “primary adopter” — to take paid time off for up to five appointments. The “secondary adopter” will qualify for unpaid time off for up to two appointments.

This new right is available once an adoption agency has confirmed that a child is expected to be placed for adoption. The maximum time off per appointment is six-and-a-half hours.

No extra time off is allowed where an employee is adopting more than one child within the same arrangement.

Relevant law: section 128 CFA 14