Adoption pay

Here at the University we have an excellent pay package to support staff who plan to return to work after adoption leave.

a) If you plan to return to work after your adoption leave and you have worked continuously for the the University for 26 weeks by the end of the qualifying week (this is when you receive official notification that you have been matched with a child) you will receive paid leave as follows:

• 26 weeks at full pay, followed by 13 weeks at statutory adoption pay (if you qualify for this) plus a further 13 weeks of unpaid leave.

Please note that you will be required to pay back anything over the statutory adoption pay if you do not return to work for at least 12 weeks following your adoption leave. (Full pay includes a proportion of statutory pay.)

b) If you do not intend to return to work, but have worked continuously for the University for 26 weeks by the end of the qualifying week, you will still receive statutory adoption pay (if you qualify for this) as follows:

• 6 weeks at 90% of your average earnings, followed by 33 weeks at a set standard rate (or 90% of average earnings if this is less)

c) If you have not worked continuously for the University for 26 weeks by the end of the qualifying week, you will still be able to take adoption leave, but it will be unpaid.

The policy explains who qualifies for statutory adoption pay.