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Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Announces Best Adoption-Friendly Industrial and Manufacturing Companies

Manufacturing News, Source : The Manufacturer US
Published : 01 May 2007 14:04

(Dublin, OH - April 30, 2007) The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption today announced the Best Adoption-Friendly industrial and manufacturing companies in America, based on adoption benefits offered to employees.

Dow Corning Corporation (Midland, MI) is #1, followed by Signature Custom Cabinetry, Inc. (Ephrata, PA); Hypertherm, Inc., (Hanover, NH); Standard Register (Dayton, OH); Brady Corporation (Milwaukee, WI); and Texas Instruments (Dallas TX). In addition to ranking #1 in its industry, Dow also ranked #62 in the overall Top 100 list.

Dow provides employees up to $5,000 per adoption and five weeks paid leave. Employees Mike (lab team leader) and Stacie Wingeier (human resources reporting specialist) took advantage of the company's adoption benefits when they adopted two baby girls from Belarus, formerly part of the Soviet Union.

"The company provided about $3,000 toward the $20,000 expense of each adoption," Mike said. "The process also included traveling to the country for a week each time, and everyone was very flexible with our work schedules."

Rita Soronen, executive director of the Foundation, said roughly 64% of Americans have had a personal experience with adoption. "The Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces in America lists recognize employers who excel at supporting their employees who adopt by providing financial assistance and paid leave."

The Foundation composed the Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces in America lists after CEOs and human resource executives from 762 U.S. companies participated in either a direct mail or online survey. Employers were ranked based on their adoption benefits, such as the amount of financial reimbursement and paid leave available to employees who adopt. The Foundation also recognized the top 10 by size and companies who support the cause of adoption and adoptive families in other ways. Survey respondents offer financial reimbursement ranging from $500 to $20,960 and paid leave ranging from one to 16 weeks with averages of $4,700 in financial reimbursement and five weeks of paid leave.

The Foundation partnered with several organizations to extend the survey's scope: Employee Benefits News, a SourceMedia publication that is the leading source of information for benefits decision makers; National Restaurant Association; the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce. Each extended invitations to subscribers/members to participate in the survey.

According to Hewitt Associates LLC, a global outsourcing and consulting company providing human capital management services, the number of employers offering adoption benefits is increasing. The company's United States Salaried Employee Benefits 2006-2007 study reported a steady rise of companies offering adoption benefits, from 12% in 1990 to 45% in 2006.

Soronen said organizations recognize the value of adoption benefits - to both the employee and the company. "The monetary support is tremendous for the adoptive parent, and having time off to bond with their child is vital," she said. "As for the employer, adoption benefits are an affordable way to enhance employee recruitment, retention and goodwill. We find that most employers are surprised at how little adoption benefits cost the company."

The Foundation commissioned Harris Interactive Inc., a worldwide research firm, to conduct a national attitude survey about adoption benefits. Harris reported 95% of Americans believe companies should offer adoption benefits, but only a small percentage of people actually use them (National Adoption Attitudes Survey, June 2002). The Foundation's data indicates utilization rates are generally less than one-half of one percent of the company's employee population.

Dave Thomas, who was an adopted child and founder of Wendy's Restaurants and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, started the adoption benefits in the workplace initiative more than 15 years ago. He simply began calling other CEOs to suggest they add adoption benefits to their human resource packages because, as he said, "It's the right thing to do." Thirty-nine percent of the employers surveyed by the Foundation agreed with Dave. They also cited multiple other factors that influenced their decision to offer adoption benefits, such as employee requests for adoption (40%), equity for adoptive parents (52%), a family-friendly image (61%), and a competitive work/life benefits package (62%).

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