by Carmen Polvere

Created on: May 13, 2010

   Providing benefits to employees with same sex partners is not only the right thing to do, but it is also a good business practice. Just as providing benefits to employees in a male/female relationship also is the right thing to do and is a good business practice. Employees, no matter their sex, race, religion or sexual orientation are hired by employers in a business transaction to provide skills that will contribute positively to the bottom line. Enjoying what we do, liking where we work and getting along with our co-workers are all good things. But these are not the primary reasons why we go to work. The primary reason is that we are compensated. That makes it a business transaction.

   Employees who are well compensated and feel that they are being treated equally will always make a positive contribution to the Teams they are assigned. It goes without saying that being treated equally also means being offered the same employee benefit package as the Team Member working next to you. There are of course greater difficulties for employers to offer equal benefits to those employees with same sex partners, but not impossible. Many Fortune 500 companies have found a way to do this with great success. These companies also are among the highest rated to work for among employees year after year. Employers who seek to take their company to the next level will need talented employees. Excluding talented individuals in same a sex relationship by not having a benefit package which includes their partners will not give them a competitive edge.

   Knowing from the moment they walk into a company that they will be treated fairly and be provided equal benefits as their co-workers means that employees can focus 100% on assigned responsibilities. An employer investing in equal treatment for all employees is getting a 100% return on their investment. As opposed to not covering the partners of employees in same sex relationships who have to worry about the financial impact of their partner’s healthcare costs. These concerns often do not stop at the employee entrance and many times become a distraction at work. Just as inadequate healthcare or no healthcare impacts the performance of employees in a male/female relationship.

   Extending equal benefits to employees in same sex relationships is a good business practice. When extending benefits to employees in same sex relationships is no longer a debate topic will be good day for America.

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