Archive Version of Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples Founded 1986. Online 1995-2022 Go here for a brief article on Partners History. Demian, Sweet Corn Productions, demian@buddybuddy.com |
Private Employment Benefits
Demian |
U.S. Private Employers Canadian Private Employers Other Counties’ Private Employers Benefits Offered, Then Denied Benefits Denied, Then Re-Gained Additions, Corrections? |
U.S. Private Employers |
3M Company (2006) ACLU / National Offices ACLU / San Francisco Actors’ Equity Association Actors’ Fund of America Adamation, Inc., Oakland, California Adobe Systems, Mountain View, California A former employee reported to us that their original policy was typical, in that the burden of proof was much higher for domestic partner couples than legally married couples to get corporate benefits. The proof being items not required of legal marriage, such as living together, or being financially responsible for each other debts. “When I was still at Adobe, we got them to change their requirements such that a statement of a registered domestic partnership, civil union, or US-based same sex marriage was all that was required — basically the same as for married opposite sex couples.” Advanced Microdevices (AMD), Sunnyvale, California and Austin, Texas Advance Publications, Staten Island, New York Same-sex only; offered in most corporate divisions; implemented December, 2000 some earlier. Advocate/Greenwich Time (Times Mirror) Aetna Life and Casualty Insurance Aetna U.S. Healthcare Agilent Technologies, California AGL Resources (parent of Atlanta Gas & Light), Atlanta, Georgia Alaska Airlines Travel allotment privileges offered to single employees called Employee Designated Guest; implemented October 1, 1999. Allegient Media, San Francisco Pays for individual medical insurance of employees’s domestic partners. Allen Communication (Times Mirror) Allina Health Systems American Cyanamid America West Airlines, Tempe, Arizona Medical, travel benefits; for both same-and opposite-sex couples; effective January, 2001. Must be together at least six months - not a requirement of legal marriage. American Airlines Same-sex couples only; medical, dental, life insurance, pension, bereavement, family medical leave; benefits announced August 5, 1999. Previously employees could designate anyone (Formerly only a relative) to receive a pass but at higher surcharge; allotted 16 one-way passes per year. American Automobile Association (AAA) - national This has not been verified. Also, each state runs their own franchise-type operation, and benefits can vary considerably from state-to-state. American Civil Liberties Union, Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York, New York American Cyanamid Bereavement and/or family illness leave American Express Same-sex only; medical, dental, vision. American Federation of Teachers American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) Implemented January 1, 1999. Partners must present a notarized statement claiming they are at least 18, legally unmarried, unrelated to each other, cohabit for at least six months, agree to be responsible for each other’s living expenses, have an exclusive relationship - the last four items are not required of legally married couples. American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. American Home Products American Institutes for Research, in District of Columbia and Palo Alto, California Required to cohabit for a year and share finances - not requirements of legal marriage. American Lawyer Media American Motors American President Lines American Psychological Association, District of Columbia American Red Cross, Minneapolis, Minnesota branch American Speech-Languange-Hearing Association, District of Columbia American States insurance, Indianapolis, Indiana Medical, dental, group life insurance. Amgen, Inc., California Amherst H. Wilder Foundation Amtrak Amoco Oil Corporation (Now called BP Amoco) Merged with British Petroleum Anderson Kill Olick & Oshinsky, P.C., New York, New York Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana, Indianapolis Medical, dental, vision, life insurance; same-sex only; implemented January 1, 2000. Affidavit requires having lived together for at least six months, and to plan on living together as a couple - these items are not required of legally married couples. AOL-Time Warner, New York, New York Same-sex only; effective 1994; family leave previously offered only to corporate staff. Apple Computer, Cupertino, California Applied Materials, Santa Clara, California Medical, dental; same-and opposite sex couples; implemented 1999. Archdiocese of San Francisco, California Arent, Fox, Kintner, Plotkin & Kahn, District of Columbia Arizona Cable Arizona Public Service Art Center College of Design For full-time staff and faculty. ASK Software Corp. ASK/Ingres Corporation, San Mateo, California Associated Press, New York, New York Implemented June 2003. Association for the Help of Retarded Children AT&T In agreement with the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Atlantic Pictures, New York, New York Atlantic Records (Time-Warner), New York, New York Audi Autodesk, Inc., San Rafael, California Same-sex couples only. Avon Products Avaya Communications Basking Ridge, New Jersey (Formerly the Enterprise Business Unit of Lucent Technologies) Medical, dental, vision, relocation benefits, Employee Assistance Program; for same-sex only and their dependent children. Employee needs to keep affidavit on file in case requested. Due to requirements inherited from some acquisitions, some units or departments may require the couple to have been together a year to qualify. B. Dalton (Barnes & Noble) Babbages (Barnes & Noble) Bakersfield Californian, Bakersfield, California Implemented 1996 or earlier. Baltimore Sun (Times Mirror) Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania For faculty and staff: medical, insurance. Bank of America, San Francisco, California (1998) Formed out of merger between BankAmerica and NationsBank Corporation in September 30, 1998. Same-sex or any under 65 year old blood relative qualifying as employee’s IRS dependent; medical, dental, vision. Covers domestic partner if in a committed relationship that has existed for at least six months and responsible for each other’s welfare on a continuing basis - the last two items are not required of legally married couples. Bank of Hawaii Bank One, Chicago BankBoston Same-sex or any under 65 year old blood relative qualifying as employee’s IRS dependent; medical, dental, vision. Bankers Trust Banyan Systems Inc., Westboro, Massachusetts BARRA, Inc., Berkeley, California Barnes & Noble Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), San Francisco, California Bay Area Typographical Union Bay Networks Bayer Pharmaceuticals BBN Advanced Computers Inc. Beacon Journal, Ohio BellSouth, Atlanta, Georgia Medical and dental care, life and accident insurance, and family leave. spousal benefits non-union gay and lesbian employees only; effective July 1, 2001. A Fortune 100 company with revenues exceeding $26 billion, the communications giant is the last of the so-called “Baby Bells” (created when Bell Telephone was divided up by the courts) to extend its benefits to same-sex partners. BellSouth vice chair Jere Drummond called the move “a strategic business decision” and expressed confidence that, “The return in recruitment and retention will more than offset the cost.” Similar benefits for unionized employees will need to be negotiated with the Communication Workers of America. Berkeley Systems Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Waterbury, Vermont Best Buy, Minneapolis, Minnesota Beth Israel Medical Center, Massachusetts Beth Isreal Medical Center, New York, New York Black & Veatch Blood Systems, Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona Medical, dental, life insurance; for same-sex couples only; instituted November, 2000. To qualify, couple is require to provide at least TWO of the following: a) Have lived together continuously for 12 months b) The employee has named his or her domestic partner as a beneficiary under his or her will; or the domestic partner has named the employee as a beneficiary under his or her will. c) The employee has granted his or her domestic partner powers of attorney under a durable power of attorney; or the domestic partner has granted the employee powers of attorney under a durable power of attorney. d) The employee has named his or her domestic partner as a beneficiary on his or her life insurance; or the domestic partner has named the employee as a beneficiary under his or her life insurance. e) There is a joint bank account. f) They are cosigners of a lease or deed; and g) They are named on the same car insurance policy. Bloom, Hergott, Cook, Diemer & Klein Bloomberg, L.P. Implemented September, 2000. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan Medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs, hearing; same-sex only; effective for non-union employees April 1, 2000, and for union employees January 1, 2001. Affidavit requires six months cohabitation and proof of shared expenses; this is not required of legally married couples. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Hampshire Blue Cross HeathNet Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington Medical; same-sex only; salaried, non-union employees only; effective the second half of 2000. Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN), Cambridge, Massachusetts Bon Marche, Seattle, Washington Same-sex only; affidavit requirement for “committed” and “long-term” relationship. Bookstar (Barnes & Noble) Bookstop (Barnes & Noble) Booth Newspapers, Grand Rapids, Michigan Borders Group Inc.(BGI), Ann Arbor, Michigan (Borders Books & Music, Waldenbooks, Planet Records) Medical, dental, merchandise discounts; same-sex only. Borland International Inc., Scotts Valley, California Bose Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts Boston Consulting Group Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts Management covered since 1993; unions added in 1997. Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts Bostrom/Cybul Design BP Amoco (British Petroleum and Amoco merged) Bravo Benefit status unclear - it was bought by G.E., which, as of June 2003, did not offer benefits. Dominion Resources Inc., Virginia Benefits depend on location. Bristol-Myers Squibb Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), District of Columbia Business for Social Responsibility Cadance Computer Software California Appellate Project California Pacific Medical Center California State Bar, San Francisco, California Callaway Golf CarMax Inc., Virginia Cambridge Technology Group Cambridge Technology Partners, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts Capital One Capsoft (Times Mirror) CareerPath (Times Mirror) CBS Corporation, New York, New York (CBS News, many television stations) Medical; same-sex only; implemented January 1, 2000. Celestial Seasonings, Colorado Centigram Inc., California Center for Collaborative Education, Boston, Massachusetts Medical, sick and bereavement leave; same-and opposite sex. Central Massachusetts Health Centura Software Corporation Charles Schwab & Co., San Francisco, California Medical, dental, vision, bereavement and family leave. Offered to all employees, worldwide. Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, North Carolina Chase Manhattan Bank, New York, New York Medical, dental, bereavement. Offered to all employees, including dependent qualified adults such as an elderly parent; qualifications include cohabiting at least six months and financial interdependence - the last two items are not required of legally married couples. Chevron, San Francisco, California Medical, dental, dependent life insurance, relocation, bereavement and family medical leave, death benefit. Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago, Illinois Medical; full-time administrative employees; both same-and opposite-sex couples; implemented January 1, 1999. Affidavit requires cohabiting at least six months, with intent to live together indefinitely and joint responsibility for living expenses - not requirements of legally married couples. Children’s Hospital of Boston, Massachusetts Chiron America, Emeryville, California Chrysler (division of DaimlerChrysler AG), Michigan Medical, dental, prescriptions; partner may keep benefits after employee retires; same-sex only; effective August 1, 2000. Employee required to be in a committed relationship at least six months - not required of legally married employees. Simultaneous announced benefits with General Motors and Ford; benefits negotiated through work of United Auto Workers, other labor unions, and aided by many gay-supportive groups. Chubb Corporation, The Cigna, New York, New York Medical, dental; implemented summer 2000. Affidavit requires that the couple cohabit at least a year, prove financial interdependence through co-ownership of real property, car, bank account or credit account, or designation as beneficiary of benefits, etc.; must register if there is a governmental registration in jurisdiction of residence - not required of legally married employees. Circuit City Stores Inc., Virginia Cisco Systems CitiGroup (CitiCorp, CitiBank), New York Medical, dental, eye insurance; for both same-and opposite-sex partners; effective May 2000. Required to cohabit at least a year and be financially interdependent - not required of legally married couples. City of Hope National Medical Center CitySearch.com, San Francisco, California Clear Channel Communications Inc. (2006) CMP Media Inc., Manhasset, New York CNET, San Francisco, California Implemented 1998. CNX Media, San Francisco, California (Formerly NewsNet Central) Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, Ga. Medical, same-sex couples only; U.S. only; it is considering extending the benefit to its international work force in almost 200 other countries as well; effective January 1, 2001. Coca-Cola Enterprises (the bottler), Atlanta, Ga. (2003) Colgate-Palmolive Bereavement and/or family illness leave; insurance only offered to unmarried opposite-sex in common law states. See “Common Law States.” Communication Workers of America, Washington, DC Medical, dental, prescription drug plan; does not include pension plan. Affidavit requires cohabitation and that they “intend to remain together indefinitely” - not required of legal marriage. Communications Management Inc. Compaq Computer Corp. Computer Associates International Computer Graphics, Inc. Conde Nast Publications Consolidated Edison Consumers United Insurance Company, District of Columbia Continental Airlines, Houston, Texas Same-sex partners of flight attendants get the same benefits as married partners. They also receive a “companion travel” benefit under which any individual they designate receives the same flight discounts and benefits as do the employees themselves. As of May 1, 2005, Continental treated same-sex partners of retired workers to the same benefits already available to opposite-sex couples. Couples must have a legal marriage, Civil Union, or registered partnership. Continental offers special discounts on fares in the event of a death or serious illness - requiring hospitalization or hospice care - of an immediate family member, which includes domestic partners. Compassion fares cannot be booked online; contact Continental Airlines Reservations. Contra Consta Newspapers, California (Contra Costa Times, West County Times, six weeklies in Contra Costa County, and Hills Newspapers (Oakland. California)) Implemented January 1999. Cooley, Godward, Castro, Huddleson & Tatum Attorneys, San Francisco, California Coors Brewing Co., Golden, Colorado Corning, New York Coudert Brothers Counseling Service of Addison County, Vermont Countrywide Financial Corp., Calabasas, California Covington & Burling, District of Columbia Cox Enterprises, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, etc.) Medical,dental; for both same-and opposite-sex partners; must “share the same household in a committed relationship.” implemented January 1, 2000. Cox employs more than 55,000 people in print media, television, radio, telecommunications and auction companies nationwide. Crate & Barrel, Chicago, Illinois Medical, dental, life insurance. Cray Research, Chippewa Falls & Rice Lake, Minnesota (Now a division of Silicon Graphics, Inc.) Medical. Creative Artists Agency Inc. Crum & Forster Insurance Cummins Engines International, Columbus, Indiana Medical. Covers opposite-and same-sex couples who are over 17 and live in a committed relationship. CUNA Mutual Insurance Group, Wisconsin Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts Covers partner and partner’s kids. David Sarnoff Research Center Davis, Polk & Wardwell Dayton Hudson (Dayton’s, Dayton Hudson, Marshall Field, Mervyn’s Terget) Personal holidays only; used for whatever needed. Debevoise & Plimpton, New York, New Yorkv DEC-Belgium Dell Computer Delphi Automotive Systems Corp., Troy, Michigan Delta Airlines, Ga. Same-sex only; effective 2001. Democratic National Committee (DNC) Medical. Dewey Ballantine, New York, New York Digital Credit Union, Maynard Massachusetts Membership for household members of Digital Equipment Corp. employees. Digital Equipment Corp, Maynard Massachusetts Medical, dental, life insurance, bereavement, pension, COBRA, relocation. Discovery Channel Disney, Walt, Burbank, California Disney/ABC Inc., New York, New York (Was Capital Cities/ABC) Dominion Resources Inc., Virginia Un-subsidized benefits. Donna Karan Dorsey and Whitney, Minnesota Dow, Lohnes & Albertson, District of Columbia Dow Chemical, Midland, Michigan Medical, dental, prescription drugs, employee assistance program, dependent life insurance, voluntary group accident insurance, dual career assistance, relocation assistance, pension survivor benefits, leave for family medical, illness, new parents (Birth or adoption), bereavement. Coverage includes any children of the domestic partner. In U.S., coverage is available to non-and union employees; offered to both same-and opposite-sex partners; In the U.S., couple must cohabit for a year; NOT required of legal marriage, otherwise varies by country. implemented May 2002. Dow Jones and Co., New York, New York Both same-and opposite-sex couples; implemented September, 2000. DreamWorks SKG, Los Angeles, California Duke Energy, North Carolina (March 2005) Bereavement leave, adoption assistance, relocation services. medical, dental coverage begins January 1, 2006. for both same-and opposite-sex. DuPont, Del. Bereavement and/or family illness leave. E! Entertainment Television E.W. Scripps Company (Scripps Networks), Cincinnati, Ohio Medical, dental; same-sex only. Affidavit requires one-year cohabitation - not required of legally married couples. Eastern Mountain Sports, Peterborough, New Hampshire Spouse discount cards only. Eastman Kodak, International, Rochester, New York Required to sign affidavit attesting intent to maintain relationship, shared responsibilities, co-residence - not required of legally married couples. Edison International, Rosemead, California Medical, dental, vision, mental health/substance abuse, employee assistance program. Required to cohabit for at least 12 months, and intend to live together permanently - not required of legally married couples. Edix, San Diego, California Eddie Bauer, Inc., Redmond, Washington (The Spiegel Group) Same-sex only; medical, dental, family leave. Egghead Software El Nuevo Herald, Miami, Florida Medical, dental. Electronic Data Systems (EDS) Eli Lilly & Co., Indianapolis, Indiana Medical; retirees are also eligible; implemented January 2004. EMC, Corporation, Hopkinton, MA Medical, dental, life, sick and bereavement leave; open to same-and opposite-sex partners. Required to cohabit - not required of legally married couples. From their Special Benefit Programs page: “Domestic Partner Program - Join our benefit program for qualifying domestic partners if you are an EMC employee working at least 30 hours per week. Subject to insurance carrier limitations, the policy covers both same sex and opposite sex domestic partners residing in the United States who maintain a committed relationship and occupy the same residence.” From their Diversity page: “EMC is committed to creating an environment of inclusion that has many dimensions-cross-geography, cross-organization, and across traditional lines of differences, such as gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and race.” Entertainment Radio Network ENTEX Enron, Houston, TX Medical, dental, life insurance; offered to both same-and opposite-sex couples. Required to cohabit for at least 6 months, and demonstrate financial and emotional joining with wills, beneficiary documents, etc. - not required of legally married couples. Episcopal Church of the United States Episcopal Diocese of California San Francisco Bay Area; covers lay persons and clergy. Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, Minnesota Episcopal Diocese of Newark, New Jersey Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Ernst & Young, Detroit, Michigan Medical, dental, life; same-sex only; nothing to sign, however, couples are required to cohabit a year, and co-mingle finances in some way; applies to all employees globally; implemented January 1, 2002. Estee Lauder Companies Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Assoc.), District of Columbia Farella, Braun & Martel Federal Express (FedEx) The day before an August 20, 1999 deadline, FedEx notified San Francisco that it would comply with a court order to provide no-cost benefits to the domestic partners of its San Francisco employees, rather than appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Federal National Mortgage Association Federal Reserve Bank of New York Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Field & Stream (Times Mirror) Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, District of Columbia First Bank System Bereavement and/or family illness leave. First Chicago Corporation Bereavement and/or family illness leave. First Tech Computer First Union Bank, Charlotte, North Carolina Focus Homes, Inc. Ford Motor Corporation, Michigan Medical, dental, prescriptions; partner may keep benefits after employee retires; same-sex only; effective August 1, 2000. Required to have been in committed relationship at least six months - not required of legally married employees. Simultaneous announced benefits with General Motors and Chrysler division of DaimlerChrysler; benefits negotiated through work of United Auto Workers, other labor unions, and aided by many gay-supportive groups. Forte Software Medical. Fox Entertainment Group, New York, New York Fox division News America/News Corp. handles its benefits separately. See separate listing. Same-sex only; implemented 1996. Fox Inc., Beverly Hills, California (Fox Television, Fox Filmed Entertainment, Fox Family) Medical. Frame Technology, San Jose, California Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research, Seattle, Washington French Press Agency (AFP) Implemented 2000; French employees also are covered by the French domestic partners law implemented in 1999. (See our article “Civil Solidarity Pact”) Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, New York Frito-Lay (2004) Gannett Co. Inc. (99 newspapers, 23 TV stations; employs 53,400) Medical; for both same-and opposite-sex couples; implemented January 1, 2002. Gap, Inc., The Medical; same-sex only. Gardener’s Supply, Burlington, Vermont Gateway, California Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Gay & Lesbian Medical Association Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund GEICO Direct Bereavement and family illness leave only. Genentech, San Francisco, California General Electric General Mills, Minnesota General Motors Corporation (GMC), Detroit, Michigan Medical, dental, prescriptions; partner may keep benefits after employee retires; same-sex only; effective August 1, 2000. Required to have been in committed relationship at least six months - not required of legally married employees. Simultaneous announced benefits with Ford and Chryster division of DaimlerChrysler; benefits negotiated through work of United Auto Workers, other labor unions, and aided by many gay-supportive groups. Genworth Financial Inc., Virginia Geordi Kajlor Pubs., (The Spectrum) Dayton, Ohio Implemented 1985. George Meany Center, The Glaxo Wellcome, Inc. (U.S. subsidiary of Burroughs Wellcome) Medical, dental. Global Crossing, Madison, New Jersey Medical, dental; same-sex only; implemented January 1, 2001. Affidavit required stating a prior relationship of at least 12 months - not required of legally married employees. This telecommunications company also has an extensive anti-discrimination policy. GeoCities Golden Rule, Indianapolis, Indiana Golf Magazine (Times Mirror) Golston & Storrs Law Offices, Boston, Massachusetts Greenpeace International, District of Columbia Greenberg, Glusker, Fields, Claman & Machtinger (Entertainment law firm), California Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound (HMO), Seattle, Washington Gupta Corp. (Radius Corp.) Harcourt-General (Harcourt Brace (publishers), Nieman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman (Retailers), and educational companies) Same-sex only; implemented November 1998. Harley-Davidson Use of on-site facilities. Hartford Courant (Times Mirror) Harvard Community Health Plan (HMO), Boston, Massachusetts Domestic partner insurance to all groups and individuals. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. Health Systems Design Corp., Oakland, California Medical, dental, vision. HealthPartners, Bloomington, Minnesota Medical, right to purchase life insurance. Hearst Corporation, New York, New YorK (10,000 employees; owns 12 daily newspapers, eight TV and six radio stations; is a partner in ESPN, A&E, Lifetime; owns Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Redbook, Avon Books, Pocketbooks, etc.) Implemented 1997. Hedges & Caldwell Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe Hewitt Associates Hewlett-Packard U.S. employees only; medical, long term disability. Hibernia Hill & Knowlton Hoechst-Celanese Holland & Knight, Miami, Florida (Also in Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach) Medical. Hollywood Online (Times Mirror) Home Box Office (HBO - Time Warner, Inc.), New York, New York Home Depot, Atlanta, Georgia Medical implemented in 2004; already in place: family leave, bereavement, relocation expenses, inclusion in the Employee Assistance Program and membership in the fitness and health program; for both same-and opposite-sex; implemented in 2000; Revised its nondiscrimination policy in May 2001. Home Shopping Network, St. Petersburg, Florida Same-sex only; medical, insurance. Honeywell, Minneapolis, Minnesota Hope National Medical Center Horizan Airlines Travel allotment privileges offered to single employees called Employee Designated Guest; implemented October 1, 1999. Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Robertson & Falk, San Francisco, California Howrey & Simon, District of Columbia Hubbard Farms Human Rights Campaign Fund, District of Columbia IATSE Local 16 IBM (International Business Machines Corp.), New York, New York Medical, same-sex only, U.S. and Canada only. No longer offers benefits in Massachusetts because legal marriage is offered in that state. ICM Mortgage Corp. IDG IDS Financial Services Imation Corp. Immunex, Mason, Ohio Imperial Chemical Industries (National Starch, Quest International, Uniquema) Implemented January 2001. Independent Newspapers, San Francisco, California (SF Examiner (Newspaper Guild members), SF Independent) Informix Software, Menlo Park, California Innosoft International Inc. Insurance Company of the West Intel Corp., Santa Clara, California Medical, dental. Interleaf Technology, Boston, Massachusetts InterMedia Partners (cable operators) International Data Corporation International Data Group, Boston, Massachusetts Both same-and opposite-sex; implemented 1993. International Flavors and Fragrances, New York, New York Medical, dental, vision, life insurance; both same-and opposite-sex couples; required to cohabit for a year - not required of legally married employees. International Medical News Group, Rockville, Maryland (Division of Harcourt-General) Same-sex only; implemented 1998. International Paper, Memphis, Tennessee Medical, dental; both same-and opposite-sex couples; NO AFFIDAVIT required, NO time requirement, effective 2004. Intuit, Inc. Irell & Manella, (Entertainment law), Los Angeles, California ISIS Pharmaceutical Itron Inc., Spokane, Washington Medical, dental, insurance. Domestic partnership must have existed for at least a year - not required of legally married employees. ITT Hartford Group Relocation, family leave, bereavement, employment assistance, medical, life insurance. J.P. Morgan & Co., New York, New York Medical, dental. Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine Medical. Jaguar Jeppesen Sanderson, Inc. (Times Mirror) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services Jewish Community Centers Association John Hancock Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, New Jersey Medical, dental, life and child life insurance, accident and child accident insurance, long-term care, health and care account (For elderly parent nursing home assistance, adoption financial assistance; partner’s children covered; both same-and opposite-sex; implemented April 1, 2003. Requirements: 18 or older, cohabit for more than a year - not required of legally married employees. Journal News (Gannett Co. Inc.) JP Morgan Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii (HMO) Kaiser Permanente, Northern California (HMO), Oakland, California Kaiser Permanente, Southern California (HMO) Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri Kaset International (Times Mirror) Keynote Systems, Inc. Kimberly-Clark King & Spalding Knight-Ridder Medical, dental. Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Inc., Mountain View, California Medical, dental; individual divisions could offer benefits as of 1997. Kofax Image Products KPMG LLP, New York, New York (Formerly Peat Marwick) Medical, dental, spousal life insurance; same-sex only; NO AFFIDAVIT required, but city or state registration requested where available; implemented January 1999. KQED, San Francisco, California Both same-and opposite-sex couples; implemented 1994. Kraft Foods, Michigan Krum & Forster Commercial Insurance NOT for same-sex couples; only for unmarried opposite-sex in common law states. See “Common Law States.”) Kutak Rock LLP Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund, New York, New York LandAmerica Financial Group, Virginia Lands’ End Latham & Watkins Lava Trading Inc. Medical, tuition reimbursement; for same- and opposite-sex domestic partners and their dependents. Law School Admissions Council Leap Wireless International and Cricket Communications Inc., San Diego, California Medical, dental, vision; both same-and opposite-sex couples; NO AFFIDAVIT required, NO time requirement, just notarized signatures; effective January 1, 2001. Learning International (Times Mirror) LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae Lesbian and Gay Law Association of Greater New York (LeGal), New York Levy, Ratner & Behroozi, P.C., New York, New York Medical, dental, life insurance, illness and bereavement leave. Applicant must submit valid domestic partnership certificate or equivalent. Not clear if applicable to opposite-sex couples. Firm also invites partner to company functions where spouses are invited. Levi Strauss & Co., San Francisco, California Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington, Kentucky (Knight-Ridder Corp.) Medical, dental. Affidavit required attesting that they are at least 18, cohabited at least six months, prove shared financial responsibility and cohabitation, and were committed for a long time - most items not required of legally married couples. Lexmark International, Kentucky Lexus Liberation Publications, Inc. Liberty Mutual Insurance Group Life USA Holding Lighthouse for the Blind, Seattle, Washington Lilienthal & Fowler, Attorneys, San Francisco, California Limited, Inc., The, Columbus Ohio (Victoria’s Secret, etc.) Medical, dental; same-sex only; implemented April 1, 1999. Limited and Longaberger, The, Newark, New Jersey Same-sex couples only. Lincoln National Corp., Fort Wayne, Indiana Livingston Enterprises, Inc. Lockheed Martin Medical; announced November 21, 2002, implemented early in 2003. Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, California Los Angeles Philharmonic, California Lotus Development Corp., Cambridge, Massachusetts (Now IBM) Includes on-site day-care center. Lowe's (2006) LSI Logic, Milipitas, California Lucas Films, California Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, New Jersey Medical, dental, vision, relocation benefits, Employee Assistance Program; covers children of partner; same-sex only; effective October 1997. Originally, relocation benefits were not offered, however, as of October 1, 2000, full relocation benefits were added. Employee needs to keep affidavit on file in case requested. Due to requirements inherited from some acquisitions, some units or departments may require the couple to have been together 12 months to qualify - not required of married couples. MacTemps, San Francisco, California Same-sex only. Madlyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life, North Wales, Pennsylvania Medical, life insurance; no affidavit required; offered to both same- and opposite-sex couples; implemented July 1, 2002. Magellan Health Services, Columbia, Maryland Medical, dental, vision, behavioral health; children or other dependents of domestic partners are not eligible; domestic partners are not eligible for COBRA or Flexible Spending Accounts; same-sex only; effective January 2001. Required to be financially interdependent, to have cohabited for a year and intend to continue doing so. Not required of legal marriage. Further, the couple must register with the state, if the state offers domestic partner registration. Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine Medical. Couples required to be at least 18 years old; in a “long-term, intimate and committed relationship” of at least a year’s duration, must cohabit the same permanent residence, and provide proof that they are financially interdependent - not required of married couples. Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco, California Market News Service Market News Service, Washington, District of Columbia Both same-and opposite-sex couples; implemented 1996. Marsh & McLennan, New York, New York Medical, dental, personal accident insurance, spouse life insurance, dependent children life insurance; offered to both same- and opposite-sex couples, plus partner’s dependent children; effective July 1, 2000. Affidavit requires that the relationship must have existed for at least 12 months and intends to be permanent - not required of married couples. Mass Mutual Mattel Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. (Times Mirror) Mayo Clinic, Minnesota MCA/Universal, Universal City, California McClatchy Company, Sacramento, California Individual properties allowed to offer benefits; both same-and opposite-sex couples; implemented 1999. McCutchin, Doyle, Brown & Enersen, San Francisco, California McDonald’s McGraw-Hill Companies, New York, New York Medical, dental, bereavement leave; implemented 1998. McKesson, San Francisco, California Medical, dental, vision, life insurance (For employee, partner, and their children), long-term care, short-term disability, flexible spending accounts (health and dependent care), bereavement leave; for both same-and opposite-sex partners. Required to cohabit, no other domestic partner in the last six months, “Agree to be responsible for each other’s basic living expenses during your domestic partnership and also agree that anyone who is owed these expenses can collect from you or your domestic partner” - none of this is required of legal marriage. McKinsey & Co. Medco Health Solutions, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey Medical, dental, vision, insurance plans, financial planning; same-sex only; implemented January 1, 2003. Affidavit requires that the couples be jointly responsible for each other’s welfare, financial and other obligations, cohabit for a year - not required of married couples. Medtronic, Fridley (Minneapolis), Minnesota Medical, dental. Required to cohabit for at least a year after registering for benefits before benefits kick in - not required of legal marriage. Mercedes Merck, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey Medical, dental, vision, insurance plans, financial planning; same-sex only; implemented January 1, 2003. Affidavit requires that the couples be jointly responsible for each other’s welfare, financial and other obligations, cohabit for a year - not required of married couples. Merrill-Lynch Medical: implemented January 1999. Also covers any designated family member. MGM/UA, Santa Monica, California Miami Herald/El Nueva Herald, Florida Medical, dental. Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington (1993) Medical. Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, New York, New York Millennium Global Inc., Clearwater, Florida Miller Brewing Miller-Freeman, San Francisco, California Implemented 1999. Minneapolis Public Radio Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota Minnesota Communications Group, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Minnesota Public Radio) Implemented 1992. Minnesota Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, Minnesota Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glouskey & Popeo, Boston, Massachusetts Monsanto Company Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York Morrison & Foerster (All offices nationwide), San Francisco, California Monitor Communications Morning Call (Times Mirror) Morningstar, Inc., Chicago, Illinois Medical, dental, life insurance; same-sex only. Required to co-habit and “Share welfare and financial responsibilities” - not required of legal marriage. Mosaix, Redmond, Washington Same-sex only; medical. Mosby-Year Book, Inc. (Times Mirror) Motion Picture Industry Health Plan Motorola Mount Sinai Hospital Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York National Assoc. of Socially Responsible Organizations National Center for Lesbian Rights, San Francisco, California National Conference of Christians & Jews National Equity Fund National Federation of Community Broadcasters, San Francisco, California Implemented 1999. National LGBTQ Task Force (was National Gay and Lesbian Task Force), District of Columbia National Geographic, Washington, District of Columbia Both same-and opposite-sex couples; implemented 1999. National Grocers Association National Organization for Women, District of Columbia National Public Radio (NPR), District of Columbia Both same-and opposite-sex couples; implemented 1993. National Starch (Imperial Chemical Industries) Effective January 2001. Nationwide Insurance, Columbus, Ohio Able to select anyone with whom they share a home and financial responsibilities, including partners, blood relatives and roommates; implemented January 1, 2000. Nature Conservancy, District of Columbia NCR Corporation, District of Columbia Ness Motley Loadholt Richardson & Poole, P.A. (Home office in Charleston, S.C., the others are are in Barnwell, South Carolina, Providence, Rhode Island, and New Orleans, Louisiana) Medical, dental, prescriptions, life insurance, bereavement and sick leave, etc.; for both same-and- opposite-sex couples; NO AFFIDAVIT required; effective January 1, 2001. Netopia, Inc., Alameda, California Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Nevada Bell, Reno, Nevada Management only; benefits phased in over 18 months; full medical benefits; implemented January 1999. New England Medical Center New York Life & Annuity, New York, New York Bereavement and/or family illness leave. New York Times, New York, New York Same-sex only; medical, dental, vision, hearing; covers children of partner, family and medical, bereavement leave; does not include life insurance for partner or partners children, which is available at low rates for married couples. Previously, benefits available only to Newspaper Guild news and advertising union; required to cohabit for at least a year - not required of legal marriage. News America/News Corp., New York, New York (A division of Fox Entertainment) Same-sex only; effective 1998. Newscorp, Inc. Newsday (Times Mirror) Newspaper Guild International, Washington, District of Columbia (Part of Communication Workers of America) Medical, dental, prescription drug plan; does not include pension plan; offered to both same-and opposite-sex partners. Affidavit requires cohabitation and that couples “intend to remain together indefinitely” - not required of legally married couples. NeXT Computer, Redwood City, California Nike, Inc., Oregon Nims Associates, Inc., Decatur, IL Medical, dental, offered to partners’ children as well; for same-sex couples only. Affidavit requires couple to cohabit at least 6 months, are not legally married to or separated from anyone else, are each others’ sole life partners and intend to so remain - not required of legally married couples. Nissan, Tennessee Medical. Benefits were offered to legally recognized domestic partners in California where Nissan’s North American headquarters had been located. It announced offering benefits to Tennessee worker just after relocating to Nashville in late 2006. Northeast Utilities System Inc. Northern States Power, St. Paul, Minnesota Non-union; medical. Northern Telecom, North Carolina Northwest Airlines, Minnesota Non-medical coverage benefits; effective June 1, 2000. Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp. Novell Corp., Utah and California NW Ayer PR NYNEX Corporation (NY Telephone Co.), New York Medical, dental, vision, beneficiary designations, leaves, relocation, life insurance, adoption reimbursement benefits. Oakland Children’s Hospital Octel America Inc. O’Melveny & Myers ON24, Inc., San Francisco, California OneWave, Inc. Oracle Systems Corp., Redwood City, California Organic Online, San Francisco, California Medical, vision, dental. Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, Attorneys, San Francisco, California Ounce of Prevention Fund, Illinois Outdoor Life (Times Mirror) Pacific Bell, San Francisco, California Management only; benefits phased in over 18 months; full medical benefits implemented January 1999; all union represented employees able to receive medical, leaves; effective ~1999. Required to be financially responsible for each other; required to cohabit for at least a year, and must wait a year after dissolving before another partner may be signed up - not required of legally married couples. Pacific Corp. (owns Utah Power and Light) Same-sex only; medical. Pacific Gas & Electric, San Francisco, California Medical, dental, vision, designated as beneficiaries of company life insurance and savings fund plans. Pacific Mutual Life Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Pacific Stock Exchange Pacific Sun Newspaper, Mill Valley, California Pacific Telesis Group, San Francisco, California (SBC Communications, San Antonio, Texas) Covers pensions, leaves, adoptions, dependent life insurance; implemented January 1, 1999: medical, dental, vision and medical-or dependent-care spending accounts. Requires municipal registration; plus partner “participates in a mutual and exclusive commitment with the employee,” “is financially interdependent by sharing common assets and debts” - not required of legally married couples. PacifiCare, California (HMO) PacifiCorp Para Transit, Inc., Sacramento, California Paradigm (Company no longer exists: bought by IXYS, Corp. (Semiconductors), Santa Clara, California in September 1998.) Patagonia Para Transit, Inc., Sacramento, California Paramount Pictures, Los Angeles, California Park Nicollet Health Systems, Minneapolis, Minnesota Pathmark Supermarkets, New York Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler, New York, New York Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker Paul, Weiss, Rifkin, Wharton & Garrison, New York, New York People First Medical, includes fertility treatments; for same- and opposite-sex domestic partners. PeopleSoft Inc. Pepsico, Michigan Petro Canada Philadelphia Newspapers Inc., Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Daily News, Pennsylvania (News Guild members); Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania (News Guild members)) Same-sex only; medical. Gained through a labor arbitrator ruling, August 1997. Pillsbury, Minnesota Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro, San Francisco, California Pitney Bowes, Stamford, Connecticut Same-sex only; medical, dental; effective January 1, 2001. Requires a certificate attesting that the couple is financially interdependent and has cohabited at least 12 months - not required of legally married couples. Pittsburgh Corning Corp., Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pennsylvania Bereavement and/or family illness leave. PlanetOut/Online Partners.com, Inc., San Francisco, California Both same-and opposite-sex couples; effective 1997. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (National Office), New York, New York Platinum Technology, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois Medical. Polaroid, Cambridge, Massachusetts Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Popular Science (Times Mirror) Portland Cable Access Pride Fund, Seattle, Washington Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, Iowa Principle Mutual Life Procter & Gamble (P&G), Cincinnati, Ohio Progress Energy, Raleigh, North Carolina Medical and life insurance; for same-and opposite-sex partners; implemented in 2007. The benefits plan had been under review for three years; ever since a lesbian worker requested benefits for her same-sex partner. The company has 11,000 workers, and is one of the largest private employers in the Raleigh area. Progressive Insurance Company, Cleveland, Ohio Medical, Dental, Vision; offered to same-and opposite-sex couples; benefits also offered to parents, siblings, and grandparents; effective January 1, 2001. Affidavit requires co-owning a home, having a joint checking account, or providing a majority of support as well as being together for at least six months - not required of legally married couples. Proskauer, Rose, Goetz & Mendelsohn, New York, New York Providian Financial in Pleasanton, California Medical, dental, eye; benefits begin 90 days after employment. Affidavit requires cohabiting for a year - not required of legally married couples. Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, New Jersey Medical; offered to same-and opposite-sex couples as well as other dependents such as elderly relatives sharing the worker’s residence; effective January 1, 2000. Public Broadcasting System (PBS) Both same-and opposite-sex couples. Public Radio International Both same-and opposite-sex couples effective 1983. Publishers Group West Puget Sound Consumer Cooperative (PCC), Seattle, Washington Medical. Qualcomm Inc., San Diego, California Same-sex only; medical, dental, supplemental life insurance, vision, relocation, employee assistance program, use of sports and fitness facility, sick pay (for dependents), sick leave (for family members), bereavement leave. Quark, Inc., Boulder, Colorado Quest International (Imperial Chemical Industries) Effective January 2001. Radius Raytheon Co., Massachusetts No longer offers benefits in Massachusetts because legal marriage is offered in that state. Reader’s Digest Association Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), Washington Medical. Red Lobster Reebok International, Stoughton, Massachusetts Medical. The first sports shoe manufacturer to offer domestic partner benefits to same-sex employees. Regions Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota (HealthPartners) Medical; right to purchase life insurance. Replacements Ltd., Greensboro., North Carolina Research Triangle Park, North Carolina Restoration Hardware, Corte Madera, California Medical, dental, life insurance, other no-cost benefits Reuters, New York, New York Only for Wire Guild members; effective 1995. Rhone-Poulenc Rhode Island Counseling Association Riggs National Corporation Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Riordan & McKinzie, Law Offices of RJR Nabisco Holdings Non-medical coverage benefits. Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (2005) Medical; effective 2006. Ropes and Gray Rosenfeld, Meyer & Susman, LLP Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois Saab Saddleback Memorial Center Safeco, Seattle, Washington Medical, dental, group life insurance; implemented January 1999; only same-sex and dependents. Saint Paul Companies Insurance, St. Paul, Minnesota Saint Petersburg Times, Miami, Florida Medical; same-sex only; effective 1997. Saint Vincent Hospital, Santa Fe, New Mexico Medical, leave. Criteria for eligibility includes committed for past 12 months, evidence of sharing of expenses, joint ownership of cars or houses, named as beneficiaries on insurance, will or retirement benefits - not required of legally married couples. Salon.com, San Francisco, California Same-sex only. Salt Water Sportsman (Times Mirror) San Francisco 49’ers San Francisco Chronicle, California Newspaper Guild members only. San Francisco Examiner, California (Independent Newspapers) Newspaper Guild members only. San Francisco Giants, California San Jose Mercury-News, California Santa Cruz Operations, California SAS Institute SBC Schiff, Harden & Waite, Chicago, Illinois Scholastic, New York, New York (educational, children’s books, including Harry Potter series) Medical, etc. Schroder Investment Management North America Inc., New York, New York (Subsidiary Schroders plc, U.K.) Medical, dental; effective Summer 2000; must sign domestic partner registration if it is provided in jurisdiction of residence. Required to cohabit for at least 12 months, and demonstrate financial interdependence through ownership of real property, car, bank account or credit account, or beneficiary designation, etc. - not required of legally married couples. Schulte Roth, New York, New York Screen Actors Guild-Industry Health Fund Scripps Networks, Cincinnati, Ohio Medical, dental; same-sex only. Affidavit requires one-year cohabitation; - not required of legally married couples. Scudder Kemper Investments, New York, New York Merged from Scudder, Stevens & Clark Inc. and Zurich Kemper Investments - not known if they retained benefits. Seagram Co. Sears, Chicago, Illinois Seattle Mental Health Institute, Seattle, Washington Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Seattle, Washington Seattle Times, Seattle, Washington Same-sex only; effective 1994. Segal & Associates Segal Company, Boston, Massachusetts Sempra Energy, San Diego, California (Enova & Pacific Enterprises merged in 1998; subsidiaries: So. California Gas Company, San Diego Gas and Electric) Medical, dental, vision, life insurance beneficiary, status, 401k, contingent annuitant on pension plan. Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge, District of Columbia Shearman & Sterling, New York, New York Shell Oil Company Requirements: being financially interdependent, jointly responsible for each other’s common welfare, cohabit at least 12 months, with the intent to do so indefinitely - not required of legally married couples. Showtime Networks Inc. Sierra Club, San Francisco, California Silicon Graphics, Mountain View, California (Now owns Cray Research) Same-sex only. Simplex Time Recorder, Gardner, Massachusetts Medical, dental, bereavement. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, New York, New York Ski Magazine (Times Mirror) Skiing (Times Mirror) Smith & Hawkin, Marin County, California Smith Kettlewell Eye Research Snowboard Life (Times Mirror) Sodexo, Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland Software AG Inc., Reston, Virginia Medical; for same-and opposite-sex couples. Software Etc. (Barnes & Noble) Sony Music Co. Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Sony Pictures Entertainment, California (Columbia, Tri-Star) Southern California Edison Southern California Gas Company, Los Angeles, California Medical, dental, vision. Southwestern Bell, Saint Louis, Missouri Medical, survivor benefits includes a portion of retirement benefits, but no life insurance; offered to same- and opposite-sex couples; required to have a domestic partnership document, can be from any city; effective January 1, 2002. Sovereign Bancorp, Wyoming, Pennsylvania Speech Language Hearing Association Sporting News (Times Mirror) Springs Industries Sprint, Dallas, Texas Relocation aid only. Sprint, Overland Park, Missouri (61,000 employees) For same-sex only; implemented January 1, 2005. St. Paul Companies St. Petersburg Times, Florida Starbucks Coffee Company, Seattle, Washington Medical. State Bar of California Stein & Co., Chicago, Illinois Steptoe & Johnson, District of Columbia Sterling Commerce, Dublin, Ohio Effective 2001. Stream International, Canton, Massachusetts Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; effective since the company’s founding in 1986; for same-sex couples only. Affidavit requires couples to share financial interdependence such as joint checking accounts or housing contracts - not required of legally married couples. Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York Sun Microsystems, Milpitas, California SunTrust Banks, Georgiav Sunquest Information Systems Medical, dental; same-sex only. Supermac Technologies, Sunnyvale, California Service Alternatives for Washington, Inc., Coupeville, Washington Benefits offered to both same- and opposite-sex couples; medical, life insurance. Subaru of America, Cherry Hill, New Jersey / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Subsidiary of Japan’s Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.) Medical, dental; reimbursement of up to $5,000 for adoption-related expenses, or up to $6,000 if the child has special needs; instituted in May 2000. Swope Parkway Health Center, Kansas City, Missouri Sybase, Berkeley, California Tambrands Target Corp., Minnesota Tattered Cover Bookstore TD Bank, N.A., Cherry Hill, N.J. Same-sex partner benefits, diversity training, resource group for LGBT Employees, and policies that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or expression. Teachers Insurance & Annuity, New York, New York Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Tektronix Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI), Colorado Medical. Telemon, Inc. Telemundo (Bought by G.E., which, as of June 2003, does not offer benefits) Teradyne, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts Same-sex only; U.S. only; medical, dental, vision. Texas Instruments, Dallas Same-sex couples get same benefits that opposite-sex married and unmarried couples already get; NO AFFIDAVIT or any other documentation needed; implemented no later than Oct. 2000. TDS/CS, Wisconsin Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Thinking Machines, Cambridge, Massachusetts Thomas Jefferson University & Hospital, Philadelphia Pennsylvania TicketMaster Timberland, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Time Magazine Co., New York, New York Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Time Warner Cable of Northeast Ohio Medical, dental, eye, prescription, life insurance, bereavement and family leave; same-sex couples only; costs $50/month for domestic partner benefits required to prove cohabitation (driver license) and that partners are financially co-dependent (joint checking) - not required of legally married couples. Times Mirror, California (Los Angeles Times, Newsday) Times Mirror Training, Inc. (Times Mirror) Today’s Homeowner (Times Mirror) Tower Records and Video Stores (MTS Inc.) U.S. workers only; medical, dental, vision. Towers Perrin Townsend & Townsend & Crew, San Francisco, California Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Kentucky Trans America Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Trans America Occidental Life Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Transworld Snowboarding (Times Mirror) Tribune Company, Chicago, Illinois Both same-and opposite-sex couples; effective 2001. Offered at subsidiary Times Mirror Co., since 1998) Tropicana, Florida Tyco International, New Hampshire Union Bank Union of American Hebrew Congregations, District of Columbia Uniquema (Imperial Chemical Industries) Effective January 2001. Unitarian Universalist Association Unitarian Universalist Service Committee United Airlines, Chicago, Illinois Benefits start in May 2000. Employees need to submit a notarized affidavit of a domestic partner relationship, proof of joint residence and financial interdependence - e.g., a mortgage or lease agreement or checking account. Benefits vary circumstantially. For those who cannot legally marry and are not related by blood or law, benefits include: medical, dental, COBRA benefits, dependent life insurance, pension survivor benefits, bereavement leave, and travel benefits (pass and emergency travel). For employees who work in San Francisco, who have a domestic partner whom they can legally marry, benefits include: travel, paid bereavement and family medical leave. To employees outside San Francisco with domestic partners who can legally marry, benefits include travel and bereavement leave. United has been legally fighting the San Francisco ordinance requiring all who do business there to offer domestic partner benefits. A court judgment required them to offer some benefits. They are waiting on the outcome of the appeal of the case and may withdraw some benefits. United Church Board for Homeland Ministries United Church of Christ United Way of America Universal Studios, Inc., California University of Pennsylvania Health Systems University Students Cooperative Association, Berkeley, California UNUM Corp., Maine Urban Institute US Airways Implemented August 6, 1999. US BanCorp (U.S. Bank), Minneapolis, Minnesota Medical, dental, life insurance; offered to both same-and opposite-sex couples, but only cover same-sex in some states; implemented January 1, 2000. Notarized affidavit requires couple to be in a “marriage like” relationship for six months, share financial responsibilities, intend for the relationship to continue indefinitely - not required of legally married couples. US West, Denver, Colorado Same-sex only; medical USA Networks USWeb/CKS, Santa Clara, California Medical, dental, vision; for both same-and opposite-sex partners. Eligible employees are required to cohabit, be in “an emotionally committed and affectionate relationship that is meant to be of lasting duration,” and to have “cohabited with the Eligible Employee in such a relationship for at least six months prior to enrollment in the Program” and “is anticipated (that they) will continue to cohabit with the Eligible Employee in such a relationship indefinitely.” - not required of legally married couples. Utah Power and Light (owned by Pacific Corp.) Same-sex only; medical. Veritas Software Corp., Mountain View, California Medical, dental, vision. Verizon (Merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE) CBell Atlantic, New York, New York, had offered benefits; GTE had not offered any domestic partner benefits.) For same-sex only; effective January 1, 2001. Vermont Girl Scouts Council, Vermont Viacom International, New York, New York (MTV, ShowTime Nickelodeon, Paramount) Village of Oak Park, Illinois Village Voice Newspaper, New York, New York (1982) The first private business to offer benefits. Vinson & Elkins, LLP, Houston, Texas Visa International Visa USA Medical, dental, vision. Vision Services Plan Visioneer Visteon Corporation, Dearborn, Michigan Medical, dental, Vision, life insurance, sick/bereavement leave, prescriptions, legal plan, long-term care; same-sex only. Requirements: 18+, must share continuous, committed relationship for at least six months; jointly share responsibility for welfare and financial obligations; cohabit, must not related by blood; must reside in state where same-sex marriage is illegal, not married to a third party. Vivendi Universal Volvo Vulcan Ventures, San Francisco, California (Owns TechTV (Formerly ZDTV)) Wachovia Corp., North Carolina (2001) Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, New York, New York Wainwright Bank and Trust, Boston, Massachusetts Medical. Benefits instituted in 1994. The bank convinced the Massachusetts Bankers Association health insurance group to offer benefits to its 160 member banks. Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Walker, Richie, Quinn Warner Brothers (Time Warner, Inc.), Burbank, California Washington Post, Washington, District of Columbia Medical, dental, prescription drugs; same-sex only; implemented January 1999. Wells Fargo & Company, San Francisco, California WGBH Public Television, Boston, Massachusetts Same-sex only; effective 1993. Whirlpool, Benton Harbor, Michigan (June 2005) Medical. White and Case, New York, New York Whitman-Walker Clinic, District of Columbia Whole Foods Market/Fresh Fields, Austin, Texas (Bread & Circus, Wellspring Grocery, Unicorn, Texas Health) Medical, dental, vision, life insurance; both same-and opposite-sex couples; implemented circa 1997. Required to cohabit for a year - not required of legally married couples. Wild Oats Wilder Foundation, St. Paul, Minnesota Wiley, Rein & Fielding, District of Columbia William Morris Agency Woodward & Lothrop, Inc., Virginia Bereavement and/or family illness leave. Worcester Telegram Working Assets Funding Service, San Francisco, California WQED Radio, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Writers Guild of America West Wyatt Company Xerox, Stamford, Connecticut Offers up to $1,000/year for health insurance. Xerox Federal Credit Union Yale-New Haven Hospital, Connecticut First required to prove cohabitation for past six months, not a requirement of legal marriage. Now require to register in a Civil Union. Ziff Communications, New York, New York Ziff-Davis Publications, New York, New York Both same-and opposite-sex couples; effective 2001. |
Canadian Private Employers |
It has been reported that about a third of Canada’s large employers provide medical coverage to workers’ same-sex partners. Unlike the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Revenue Canada treats same-sex couples the same as married opposite-sex couples by not taxing them on employer-paid spousal medical benefits. The Canadian Supreme Court ruled that all federally regulated employers providing benefits to common law spouses must do likewise for same-sex couples. Also, in a ruling from an appeals court, privately administered pension funds may benefit same-sex partners without suffering tax penalties.
3M Canada, London, Ont. (Medical) |
Other Countries’ Private Employers |
Air New Zealand Introduced “registered nominees” in 1991. Employees can have anyone they want - without fear of recrimination - fully accessing their staff travel benefits. They can change that nominee to someone else every 12 months.
Australia
Quantas (2006)
Belgium
Great Britain
International Monetary Fund
Israel
The Netherlands
World Bank |
Benefits Offered, Then Denied |
Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts No longer offers benefits in Massachusetts because legal marriage is offered in that state.
Mitretek Systems, Inc., Falls Church, Virginia - changed name to Noblis in 2007
Mobil Corporation
Perot Systems, Dallas, Texas (1996-1998 R.I.P.)
Salvation Army Western Corporation (Includes 13 states)
System Resources Corporation (SRC), Burlington, Massachusetts (Titan Industries, San Diego, California) |
Benefits Denied, Then Re-Gained |
Georgia Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine refused to give regulatory approval for insurance policies that included benefits for unmarried partners. Only companies large enough to at least partially self-insure, or were headquartered outside Georgia and thereby fell outside Oxendine’s authority were able to offer benefits.The city of Atlanta sued Oxendine for refusing to approve benefits for city employees (After their first domestic partnership benefits ordinance was declared unconstitutional, and their second one was approved). On September 22, 1999, the court ordered Oxendine to lift his statewide prohibition against insurance companies issuing policies covering domestic partners. |
Additions and corrections are welcome. Please tell us:
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Governments that offer Full Legal Marriage | ||
Nations . Netherlands (2001) Belgium (2003) Canada (2005) Spain (2005) South Africa (2005) Norway (2009) Sweden (2009) Iceland (2010) Argentina (2010) Portugal (2010) Denmark (2012) France (2013) New Zealand (2013) Brazil (2013) Uruguay (2013) New Zealand (2013) United Kingdom (England, Wales) (2013) Luxembourg (2014) Finland (2014) Scotland (2014) Ireland (2015) Greenland (2015) United States (2015) Colombia (2016) Germany (2017) Malta (2017) Australia (2017) Austria (2019) Taiwan (2019) Ecuador (2019) Costa Rica (2020) Chile (2022) Estonia (2023) Nepal (2023) Greece (2024) |
US States . U.S. Supreme Court, June 26, 2015 Ruling: All States must allow legal, same-sex marriage. . These states had legal marriage before the ruling: . Massachusetts (2004) California (2008) Connecticut (2008) Iowa (2009) Vermont (2009) New Hampshire (2009) District of Columbia (2009) New York (2011) Maine (2012) Washington (2012) Maryland (2013) Rhode Island (2013) Delaware (2013) Minnesota (2013) Illinois (2013) Utah (2013) New Jersey (2013) Hawaii (2013) New Mexico (2013) Michigan (2014) - stayed pending legal challenge Oregon (2014) Wisconsin (2014) Arkansas (2014) - stayed pending legal challenge Pennsylvania (2014) Indiana (2014) Nevada (2014) Virginia (2014) Oklahoma (2014) Idaho (2014) West Virginia (2014) Alaska (2014) Arizona (2014) Wyoming (2014) Kansas (2014) - stayed pending legal challenge Florida (2014) Colorado (2014) North Carolina (2014) South Carolina (2014) Montana (2014) Alabama (2015) |
Native American Tribes . Coquille Tribe, Oregon (2009) Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, Connecticut (2010) Suquamish Tribe, Washington (2011) Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, Washington (2011) Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Michigan (2013) Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan (2013) Santa Ysabel Tribe, California (2013) Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Washington (2013) Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Oklahoma (2013) Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Minnesota (2013) Grand Portage Band of Chippewa, Minnesota (2013) Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Washington (2014) Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Arizona (2014) Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyoming (2014) Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Montana (2014) San Carlos Apache Tribe, Arizona (2014) Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes, Oregon and Nevada (2014) Fort McDowell Yavapai Community, Arizona (2014) Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Wisconsin (2014) Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (2014) Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (2014) Pascua Yaqui Tribe (2014) Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, & Siuslaw Indians (2014) Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes, Alaska (2015) Oneida Nation, Wisconsin (2015) Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (2015) Chemehuevi Indian Tribe (2015) Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (2015) Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (2015) Stockbridge-Munsee Tribe (2016) Oglala Sioux Tribe (2016) Tulalip Tribe, Washington (2016) Menominee Nation (2016) Cherokee Nation (2016) |
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