by Dale Hatton

Created on: November 18, 2009

Assuming that the business is located in a state where the same sex union is not recognized, the question now becomes a moral and financial question. As a former business owner with employees, I can fully appreciate the dilemma. Employee benefits are a huge financial burden on the company and should not be taken for granted, as I believe many people do.

The purpose of a business is to make money, period. It is not there to provide benefits or wages to employees. Employees are sometimes required to do business and provide a service or product to its customers. The wage and benefit package offered is a way for the business to recruit and retain those employees. If the employee feels that they can get better wages or benefits from another employer, they will consider those options much the same way an employer decides on how much it will take to retain an employee.

As a financial question, the employer should have the right to offer or not offer any benefits that are in the best interest of the company. Every employee has the option to go work somewhere else if they do not like the wages or benefits offered by the employer. If the employee is an asset to the company and is providing a financial benefit to the company, than he or she will be offered a wage and benefit that will insure that the employee will stay. There is a misconception among many in government that businesses have an endless supply of money. The economic pressures on today's business have not been seen since the 1930's.

Even if a company is making huge profits like the oil industry, there is no financial reason for them to offer more than the market will bear. It is not always a matter of mean business owners or greed. That's just the reason they are in business.

As for the moral issue, some consideration should be given to the society that the business benefits from. I think that moral obligation to society is provided through the mutual relationship with that society. No one is forced to purchase anything from any company, even utility companies. We all choose to buy insurance, fuel, electricity, and all other life necessities. The improved lifestyle we all love and cherish would not be possible without these businesses. It is that relationship that provides them profits, you jobs and a better way of life than any other generation in history.

There is no question that employers should not be required to provide benefits to same sex couples any more than they should be forced to provide them for anyone.

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