• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, November 10, 2014

When it comes to adoption-friendly work places Publicis Groupe’s Leo Burnett is tops in Adland, according to the Dave Thomas Foundation For Adoption. The agency provides its employees with up to $10,000 per adoption and four weeks of paid leave.

The foundation, set up in 1990 by Wendy’s Founder Dave Thomas  who was adopted himself, compiles an annual list of the top 100 adoption-friendly work places in the country. In addition to leading the advertising, marketing and PR sector, Burnett was 32nd overall on this  year’s list, released to coincide with National Adoption month, a national effort to raise awareness of the children in foster care waiting to be adopted.

Following Burnett in the Ad-Marketing Sector were  GMMB (Washington, DC), VML (Kansas City, MO), and Resource (Columbus, OH). The complete list of Top 100 companies and all industry lists may be viewed here.

The foundation has been compiling the list since 2007 to recognize the companies that offer the best adoption benefits in the country. The list is determined by an analysis of a company’s adoption benefits, including the maximum amount of financial reimbursement and paid leave for employees who adopt. Companies across the country, from a wide range of industries, submit applications for consideration.

 “Each year, we recognize the companies across the United States that go the extra mile to provide adoption benefits in the workplace. We know that these benefits are not only cost effective and build employee loyalty, but most importantly, they provide critical support to families who adopt children in need of loving, stable homes,” said Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

In addition to ranking first in its industry, Leo Burnett Group was recognized as #32 (tied) on the Top 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List. The company provides its employees with up to $10,000 per adoption and four weeks of paid leave.

Since 2007, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has compiled the annual list of America’s top 100 adoption-friendly employers to honor companies that offer the best adoption benefits in the country. The list is determined by an analysis of a company’s adoption benefits, including the maximum amount of financial reimbursement and paid leave for employees who adopt. Companies across the country, from a wide range of industries, submit applications for consideration. In addition to ranking the top 100 overall, the Foundation also ranks companies by size in individual industry lists.

“Each year, we recognize the companies across the United States that go the extra mile to provide adoption benefits in the workplace. We know that these benefits are not only cost effective and build employee loyalty, but most importantly, they provide critical support to families who adopt children in need of loving, stable homes,” said Rita Soronen, President and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

There are more than 100,000 children in the U.S. foster care system waiting to get adopted. Every year, more than 23,000 children in foster care turn 18 and age out of the system without families. The 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List helps increase foster care adoption awareness while recognizing businesses that support families who choose to build their family through adoption.