Employees must notify their employer of their intention to take adoption leave, and the date on which they intend their adoption leave to start, within a set timescale. The timing of the notification depends on whether the child is being adopted within the UK or from overseas.
The employer must respond to the notification within 28 days, informing the employee of the date on which their additional adoption leave will end.
The employee may change their mind about the adoption leave start date, so long as they give the required notice.
This triggers a duty on the employer to write to the employee with the new adoption leave end date. A failure to do so could have significant consequences.
