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Ceridian Adoption Administration builds goodwill cost-effectively

Adoption assistance is a growing trend among employers of all sizes and industries. The number of companies offering adoption assistance grows each year as organization find they are a competitive, low-cost addition to a work-life package. Of Working Mother magazine's 2006 Top 100 companies, 91 offer financial assistance for employees who adopt children and 73 offer paid leave.

The people at Ceridian who work with Ceridian Adoption Administration speak with quiet pride about the work they do. "We're one of only a few EAP and Work-Life services providers to offer adoption reimbursement administration," says Jen Piliero, Ceridian LifeWorks product manager. "It's a great addition to our strong consultative program and it feels good to help companies make a positive difference for their employees. Every member of our team has real impact on people, every day."

Adoption comes of age
Hewitt Associates surveyed 1,000 companies in 1990 -- and only 12 percent offered financial assistance for adoption. By 2006, that increased to 45 percent. This remarkable change began in 1990, when Wendy's Restaurants founder Dave Thomas (who was adopted as a child) was asked by President H. W. Bush to head the White House Initiative on Adoption to raise awareness for the cause.

"Dave Thomas really brought the conversation about adoption into the workplace," says Tari Woodlock, Ceridian LifeWorks project administrator. "He personally contacted CEOs and state governors, urging them to provide adoption benefits. He also started the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. A lot has changed over the years. Adoption has really come of age."

Adoption benefits aren't just for large companies
The Society for Human Resource Management reports that 17 percent of medium-sized firms and 13 percent of small companies provide adoption benefits, which includes combinations of financial assistance, paid and unpaid leave and support resources. (Source: Helping fill out the family tree: Employers honored for adoption benefits, Lynn Gresham, Employee Benefit News, May 2007.)

"It's cost-effective goodwill," Rita Sorensen, executive director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, told TIME magazine. "One that doesn't hit the bottom line very hard." (Source: Adapting to Adoption, TIME Magazine, June 7, 2007.)

What kind of adoption benefits do employers offer?
Over the years, adoption has become more accepted, more commonplace -- and decidedly more complex. "When you make the commitment to adopt a child, you face a mountain of paperwork," says Piliero. Expenses can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. And international adoption has added a whole new layer of complication to what was already a daunting endeavor. Employees really appreciate an employer who will help them during this exhilarating and stressful time."

Many employers offer adoption support in the following ways:

Financial support - Ninety percent of the employers surveyed in compiling the "Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces" list offer financial assistance, but the amounts vary widely. The average financial benefit is $4,700. Some companies specify the dollar amount per adoption process, some per adopted child.

"Whatever the extent of the employer's benefit, there is a lot to be gained by offering this kind of support," says Nancy Mihok, Ceridian LifeWorks adoption reimbursement associate. "The rewards are apparent, because these employees really appreciate the help."

Adoption leave - Paid leave for adoption is offered by 51 percent of companies surveyed, ranging from one to 16 weeks or more. The average paid leave is five weeks.
Half of the employers surveyed also offer unpaid leave for adoption in addition to that mandated by the Family Leave and Medical Act. (Source: Helping fill out the family tree: Employers honored for adoption benefits, Lynn Gresham, Employee Benefit News, May 2007.)

Ceridian Adoption Administration: A great new addition
"Our strong adoption resource and referral services create a cost-effective solution for any Work-Life customer," says Woodlock. "And now we're providing something new: Adoption Administration. It's a natural extension of the support we provide."

Piliero describes how these services add value. "Adoptive parents need to know their company's reimbursement policy. They need an explanation of standard policy issues, and they need to know where to get help with complicated questions. With our services, the person can speak directly to an adoption reimbursement administrator. We review applications for completeness. We coordinate with their company to determine eligibility and help process the payment through payroll. It's a great comfort to all concerned."

Rich knowledge, focused proficiency
"In this sort of environment, with so much at stake, expertise matters," Piliero says. "For instance, our adoption specialists have master's-level education and training in adoption issues. Many are actually adoptive parents or from adoptive families. Our administrative service team is trained to spot the nuances of each individual's case -- and then manage it to conclusion. We take our responsibilities very seriously, because we know these people depend on us. They know we'll provide adoption consulting and administrative services that are knowledgeable, professional and discreet."

If you'd like to know more about Adoption Administration available through Ceridian Work-Life Services, contact your Ceridian representative.