Apply Now for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List
Deadline for submission is April 15
DUBLIN, Ohio, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption wants to know which U.S. companies are providing the best adoption benefits to their employees in 2011.
The Foundation is asking organizations across America to participate in its fifth annual 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces survey.
The 2011 deadline is Friday, April 15. The Foundation's list of the nation's 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces is released in September and featured in Employee Benefit News magazine. The list is determined by an analysis of a company's adoption benefits, including the maximum amount of financial reimbursement and paid leave for families who adopt.
Representatives from companies with adoption benefits are encouraged to apply by completing the Foundation's 10-minute survey at www.AdoptionFriendlyWorkplace.org. In addition to online participants, more than 50,000 executives from small, medium and large employers will be invited to participate via mail.
Every year the Foundation announces America's top 100 employers, the top 10 by size, and the leaders of each industry. Companies who support the cause of adoption and adoptive families in other ways receive special recognition.
"It's encouraging to see companies increase their adoption benefits and climb in the rankings, but it's especially encouraging to welcome new companies to the list," said Rita Soronen, president and CEO of the Foundation. "We are always looking for that outstanding company with an exceptional adoption benefits policy. The list allows us to show why these companies are outstanding adoption-friendly workplaces but also allows us to track trends in employer support for adoption."
The two most important criteria of adoption-friendly workplaces include financial reimbursement and paid leave offered to employees who adopt. Additionally, Soronen has these suggestions about how employers can be adoption-friendly:
- Promote the cause of adoption.
- Create an adoption-friendly culture to celebrate families formed through adoption.
- Be flexible with time off and work schedules.
- Educate and inform employees about the adoption process.
- Connect employees with each other by creating an internal adoption network.
- Provide post-adoption resources.
If your organization does not offer adoption benefits, you can order the Foundation's free implementation toolkit at adoptionfriendlyworkplace.org. Or follow the Adoption-Friendly Workplaces on Twitter: @BestAFW.
About the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption: The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a national nonprofit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 145,000 children waiting in North America's foster care systems. Created by Wendy's® founder Dave Thomas who was adopted, the Foundation implements results-driven national signature programs, foster care adoption awareness initiatives and research-based advocacy efforts. To learn more, visit davethomasfoundation.org, or call 1-800-ASK-DTFA.
SOURCE The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
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