Adoption/surrogacy leave and pay

Either parent may take up to 52 weeks’ leave. This is a ‘day one’ right and there is no qualifying period.

Level of pay

The level of pay depends on the length of service:

  • employees with 26 weeks’ service or more (but less than 1 years’ service) continuing into the week in which you are ‘matched’ with a child for adoption are entitled to Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) for 39 weeks.
  • employees with more than one year’s continuous service before the commencement of Adoption Leave who intend to return to work are entitled to Occupational Adoption Pay (OAP) which is an enhanced provision inclusive of the statutory provision.
  • the parent not taking adoption leave may take paternity leave.
  • if you are the surrogate you are entitled to maternity leave/pay.
Arrow symbol
Contact us
General enquiries