More than 30 years ago, our founder, Dave Thomas, led an initiative advocating for adoption benefits in the workplace, because to him, it was just “the right thing to do.” The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has carried that legacy forward through the Adoption-Friendly Workplace program.
The Foundation partners with RTI International — an independent, nonprofit research institute — to conduct the Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace survey. This spring, we released the 2024 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list, which recognizes organizations that strive to make adoption and foster care supported options for every working parent.
The 2025 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace survey will open in January. HR professionals can register to take the survey now.
Does your organization offer adoption and foster care benefits? Complete our survey to be recognized as a Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace. Participating organizations will have the opportunity to:
Scores will be calculated according to the following criteria:
Financial Reimbursement
Paid Leave
Employee Eligibility
As part of creating a family-friendly environment and maintaining a competitive benefits package, it’s important that employers provide adoption and foster care benefits to their employees. Adoption benefits typically include a combination of financial assistance, information and referral services, and paid or unpaid leave, while foster care benefits typically include paid or unpaid leave.
The Foundation surveys employers annually to determine best-in-class adoption and foster care benefits and provides a free toolkit to help organizations develop their benefits policies.
In this article, WorldatWork covers ways employers can boost benefit offerings with adoption and foster care support and highlights the Foundation’s Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces of 2024.
American Express
“Thanks to the American Express employee adoption benefits, the financial stress was taken away because they helped cover the cost of the extended hotel stay and legal fees.”
Hilton Grand Vacations
“I learned of the adoption benefit assistance through Hilton Grand Vacations and was overjoyed!”
VML
“Knowing that VML was pledging their support, both financially and emotionally, brought us through some of the dark times and helped us celebrate in the best of times.”
If your organization doesn’t offer adoption and foster care benefits, download our toolkit to start the conversation today. Check out our Get Involved page to find more ways to help.
