There's no single right way to build a family. But often, employee benefits are limiting the workforce's options.
For 68% of Americans, paid leave and other adoption benefits would impact their decision to adopt a child, according to research by The Harris Poll and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Yet according to recent data from SHRM, only 34% of employers offer paid adoption leave, and just 25% provide paid foster child leave. In an effort to highlight the companies that are best supporting their workforce, the foundation released its 17th annual ranking of the 100 best adoption-friendly workplaces.
The foundation, along with nonprofit research institute RTI International, surveyed employers across the U.S. and scored participants based on three criteria: financial reimbursement, paid leave and the percentage of employees eligible for those benefits. The employers that completed the survey offered an average of $14,831 in financial reimbursement for adoption costs, which is up 23.5% from 2022, according to a press release. The average amount of paid leave is nine weeks, an increase of 8.4% since 2022. The amount of paid leave offered to foster parents also grew to an average of 9.4 weeks, up 7.4 weeks from last year.
Read more: Adoptive and foster parents want family planning benefits, too
Ferring Pharmaceuticals topped the foundation's list for the second consecutive year for their unlimited financial reimbursement for adoption costs and 26 weeks of paid leave to adoptive parents. Newcomers to this year's list include The Walt Disney Company, which took spot no. 7, as well as Walmart, which cracked the top 100. Both were recognized for providing some of the most generous financial benefits to their vast workforces.
"[We are] thrilled to see a growing number of organizations offering robust benefits to employees who open their hearts and homes as foster and adoptive parents," Rita Soronen, president and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, said in the release. "When organizations offer benefits and join the Foundation in raising awareness of their importance to inspire others, we are one step closer to ensuring that every child has a permanent home and a loving family."
Check out the top 20 companies made the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's list of most adoption-friendly workplaces:
