Search Q&A
Adoption leave
Hi,
I have asked my HR, but since they haven't done this before they are looking for the answer as well and will get back to me. Wondering if anyone else has been in the same position.
We are in the process of an international adoption and need to travel to the country for 1 month to pick up the child. Can any of the adoption leave (12 weeks I think) be used before we get back to Belgium? Has anyone been through this?
Thanks
Try asking the BCT if they have any members who have been through this maybe. They might want you to be a member but it's a fab organisation for families so recommend you join anyway.
All the best with your endeavours
http://bctbelgium.org
I adopted from Ethiopia in 2010. Adoption leave at that time was 6 weeks and none of it could be taken until returning to Belgium with my child. You will have to use your regular paid holidays to cover the time you will be in your child's country of origin for court dates and pick up. Depending on how long you have been with your employer, you are also entitled to parental leave (3 months) once your child is with you in Belgium. Good luck!
Only one month? We needed two!
The previous poster is correct: you cannot use any of the adoption leave to which you are entitled until you return with your child. This period is:
- 6 weeks If the child is below 3 years old
- 4 weeks If the child is above 3 years old
These periods are continuous and both adoptive parents are entitled. I also believe that the period can only commence immediately upon return - i.e. you are not able to have the period and then (subsequently) your partner his/her period.
The relevant articles in the "Réglementation Sociale" guide for companies (which your employer, or HR department should have) are: 1209 - 1214 (or at least they were in 2012/13).
There is also (more or less the same) info here: http://www.partena-ziekenfonds.be/fr/services/revenus-de-remplacement/co...
You should contact them (your mutualite) to make certain of the paperwork you will need to file (but I guess I don't need to tell you that there will be paperwork!!) to ensure that you will be remunerated. I would also say that perhaps you do this more than once - we had, I think, three different answers from three different people - it's a fairly unusual situation so the "regular" mutualite person may not know the correct answer (but unfortunately may not admit it to you). I also recall that you need to (or perhaps should??) file paperwork BEFORE you return. Sorry if I little vague on this but if I tell you that the very basic, absolute minimal amount of paperwork (i.e. that which was needed by the judge) weighed more than 4 kgs, you will have an idea of just how much paperwork we had...
As already said, you will have to use your normal leave for the visit to collect the child. Any additional leave (once the adoption leave expires) can either your normal leave, or parental leave (to which you will be entitled 3 months (it applies also to adoptive parents). HOWEVER...I believe this is the total time to which your are entitled until the child is 12 years old so take care here (check, as I am not 100% certain). I also think this only applies to the mother (or one parent).
On that last point I can absolutely recommend that you do this - i.e. spend as much time as possible with the child at home before he/she goes to kindergarden/school
You should also be careful to register your child immediately upon return.
Good luck.
