Walmart expands benefits to include employees’ same-sex partners

[SunnyKayak]

Wal-Mart will extend its health care benefits to its U.S. workers’ domestic partners, including those of the same sex, starting Jan. 1.

The nation’s largest private employer said Tuesday that the changes were made so it could have one uniform policy for all 50 states at a time when some states have their own definitions of what constitutes domestic partnerships and civil unions.

Wal-Mart defines domestic partners as same-sex or opposite sex spouses, and unmarried partners who are not legally separated who have lived together for at least 12 months, are not married to anyone else, are in an exclusive relationship and plan to continue sharing a household indefinitely

, says Randy Hargrove, a Wal-Mart spokesman.


Walmart expands benefits to include employees’ same-sex partners – LGBTQ Nation


Hooray.

[Mack Knife]

Get ready because now that same sex marriage is basically on the table in many states, expect non-same sex partners to want those benefits too.

And why not?

[Seagrape Grove]

Wonder how Walmart will determine that such couples meet their criteria? A signed statement from the employee? This is wide open for abuse.

[SunnyKayak]

Originally Posted by Mack Knife

Get ready because now that same sex marriage is basically on the table in many states, expect non-same sex partners to want those benefits too.

And why not?

Originally Posted by Seagrape Grove

Wonder how Walmart will determine that such couples meet their criteria? A signed statement from the employee? This is wide open for abuse.

The same way the hundreds of other companies around the nation offer and manage domestic partner benefits.

[Aptor hours]

Well one thing to be glad about Walmart

[Finger Laker]

heh .... pretty easy for a company to say that is notorious for not paying a good portion of employees benefits

sure, we'll cover your domestic partner .... you just have to qualify first *wink* *big evil laugh*

[MiamiRob]

Originally Posted by Mack Knife

Get ready because now that same sex marriage is basically on the table in many states, expect non-same sex partners to want those benefits too.

And why not?

well we can clear this up by legalizing same sex marriage throughout the nation already.

[Zenstyle]

"This is wide open for abuse."

Who would be abused? Walmart? That's not abuse.

[EntropyGuardian]

Originally Posted by Seagrape Grove

Wonder how Walmart will determine that such couples meet their criteria? A signed statement from the employee? This is wide open for abuse.

Other companies require proof of some sort of joint ownership (utility bill, lease, bank account) in addition to a signed and notarized affidavit.

[AnywhereElse]

Does Wal-Mart have benefits to even include a same-sex partner? I was more shocked by the benefits part. So, I would think room mates could qualify and that would be nice if there are benefits to be shared. I think what will be realized is that many, especially if insurance is offered, will step forward as same-sex partners. A partner is just a partner and who wouldn't want to help someone out by getting them insured? All this will be interesting as it goes forward and much more expensive with those not in the LGBT community pairing up to line up for benefits and why not?