THE BENEFITS OF DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS
The Benefits of Domestic Partnership Benefits
Carol Scott University of Phoenix
The Benefits of Domestic Partner Benefits In the process of recruiting and retaining new employees, one of the key considerations is the benefits package offered by an employer. The majority of prospective employees consider very carefully a perspective employer’s set of benefits prior to acceptance of employment. The availability of domestic partnerships has become a major topic of concern in most states resulting in a large number of political debates, constitutional amendments, and legal proceedings. The advantages gained by providing benefits to domestic partners can outweigh the costs. This report will define domestic partnerships, outline the various benefits available for dependants, provide analysis related to the cost of providing benefits to dependants of domestic partnerships, discuss various benefit package options and related costs, and provide details related to the value the company stands to gain by offering such benefits. Domestic Partnership Domestic partnerships are generally thought of as a relationship between two members of the same sex. While same sex relationships garner most of the attention, domestic partnerships are not always between members of the same sex. California Family Code Section 297 defines domestic partners as “two adults who have chosen to share one another’s lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring.” To establish a domestic partnership in California, a couple must file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of the State, share a common residence, not be married or in a domestic partnership with someone else, not be related by blood, both are over the age of 18, both are the same sex, or opposite sex over the age of 62 and meet the eligibility criteria under the Social Security Act. Legal Issues Currently, 18 states offer domestic partner benefits for same-sex partners of state employees. Several state and local governments that offer health insurance and other benefits to employees’ unmarried domestic partners are currently facing lawsuits. Proponents of the Defense of Marriage Acts (DOMA) claim these constitutional amendments prohibit governments from offering such benefits to any dependent of a relationship that does not fit the state’s constitutional definition of marriage. Both gay-rights advocates and the American Civil Liberties Union dispute such amendments and are currently engaging DOMA proponents in courts across America in attempts to resolve their differences (Gentile, 2006). The costs associated with defending …show more content…
While providing benefits to domestic partners may slightly increase employer cost, the benefits will prove profitable. As the research has indicated, enrollment will increase slightly which will not pose a financial hardship to any corporation. Domestic partners are and should be entitled to the same benefits being offered to existing nuclear families. Healthy and happy employees equal productive employees.
References
Ash, M., & Badgett, M. (2006 December). SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL: THE EFFECT OF UNEQUAL ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT-BASED HEALTH INSURANCE ON SAME-SEX AND UNMARRIED DIFFERENT-SEX COUPLES. Contemporary Econcomic Policy, 24(4), 582-599. Retrieved July 27, 2009 from EBSCOHOST database.
Briggs, S. (1994, December). Domestic partners and family benefits: An emerging trend. Labor Law Journal, 45(12), 749. Retrieved July 29, 2009 from Business Source Complete database.
Davis, D. (2007. Fall). Designing Benefits for Domestic Partners Journal of Pension Benefits: Issues in Administration, 15(1), 56-57. Retrieved July 29, 2009 from Business Source Complete database.
Employer Health Benefits. (2006). Retrieved August 1, 2009 …show more content…
Health & Medicine Week, 283. Retrieved August 1, 2009 from ProQuest database.
Gentile, A. (2006, May). Courts weigh benefits for domestic partners. American City and County, 121(5), 14-16. Retrieved July 29, 2009, form Academic Search Premier database.
Greenwald, J. (2003, August). More U.S. employers seen adding benefits for domestic partners. Business Insurance, 37(32), 3-12. Retrieved July 27, 2009 from MasterFILE Preimier database.
Gustin, K. (2006, December). Discussing Dental. National Provisioner, 220(12), 26-29. Retrieve July 30, 2009 from Masterfile Primier database.
Lubell, J. (2008). Sharing the load. Retrieved August 1, 2009 from Ebscohost database.
Meghji, R. (2007) Healing the work place, smart companies make health a priority, Wellness Inc. Retrieved July 27, 2009 from EBSCOhost database.
Postal, A. (2007, June 11) Bill ends tax inequities on health benefits for same-sex couples. National Underwriter Life & Health, p, 6. Retrieved July 28, 2009 from Gale PowerSearch
The Benefits of Domestic Partnership Benefits
Carol Scott University of Phoenix
The Benefits of Domestic Partner Benefits In the process of recruiting and retaining new employees, one of the key considerations is the benefits package offered by an employer. The majority of prospective employees consider very carefully a perspective employer’s set of benefits prior to acceptance of employment. The availability of domestic partnerships has become a major topic of concern in most states resulting in a large number of political debates, constitutional amendments, and legal proceedings. The advantages gained by providing benefits to domestic partners can outweigh the costs. This report will define domestic partnerships, outline the various benefits available for dependants, provide analysis related to the cost of providing benefits to dependants of domestic partnerships, discuss various benefit package options and related costs, and provide details related to the value the company stands to gain by offering such benefits. Domestic Partnership Domestic partnerships are generally thought of as a relationship between two members of the same sex. While same sex relationships garner most of the attention, domestic partnerships are not always between members of the same sex. California Family Code Section 297 defines domestic partners as “two adults who have chosen to share one another’s lives in an intimate and committed relationship of mutual caring.” To establish a domestic partnership in California, a couple must file a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of the State, share a common residence, not be married or in a domestic partnership with someone else, not be related by blood, both are over the age of 18, both are the same sex, or opposite sex over the age of 62 and meet the eligibility criteria under the Social Security Act. Legal Issues Currently, 18 states offer domestic partner benefits for same-sex partners of state employees. Several state and local governments that offer health insurance and other benefits to employees’ unmarried domestic partners are currently facing lawsuits. Proponents of the Defense of Marriage Acts (DOMA) claim these constitutional amendments prohibit governments from offering such benefits to any dependent of a relationship that does not fit the state’s constitutional definition of marriage. Both gay-rights advocates and the American Civil Liberties Union dispute such amendments and are currently engaging DOMA proponents in courts across America in attempts to resolve their differences (Gentile, 2006). The costs associated with defending …show more content…
While providing benefits to domestic partners may slightly increase employer cost, the benefits will prove profitable. As the research has indicated, enrollment will increase slightly which will not pose a financial hardship to any corporation. Domestic partners are and should be entitled to the same benefits being offered to existing nuclear families. Healthy and happy employees equal productive employees.
References
Ash, M., & Badgett, M. (2006 December). SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL: THE EFFECT OF UNEQUAL ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT-BASED HEALTH INSURANCE ON SAME-SEX AND UNMARRIED DIFFERENT-SEX COUPLES. Contemporary Econcomic Policy, 24(4), 582-599. Retrieved July 27, 2009 from EBSCOHOST database.
Briggs, S. (1994, December). Domestic partners and family benefits: An emerging trend. Labor Law Journal, 45(12), 749. Retrieved July 29, 2009 from Business Source Complete database.
Davis, D. (2007. Fall). Designing Benefits for Domestic Partners Journal of Pension Benefits: Issues in Administration, 15(1), 56-57. Retrieved July 29, 2009 from Business Source Complete database.
Employer Health Benefits. (2006). Retrieved August 1, 2009 …show more content…
Health & Medicine Week, 283. Retrieved August 1, 2009 from ProQuest database.
Gentile, A. (2006, May). Courts weigh benefits for domestic partners. American City and County, 121(5), 14-16. Retrieved July 29, 2009, form Academic Search Premier database.
Greenwald, J. (2003, August). More U.S. employers seen adding benefits for domestic partners. Business Insurance, 37(32), 3-12. Retrieved July 27, 2009 from MasterFILE Preimier database.
Gustin, K. (2006, December). Discussing Dental. National Provisioner, 220(12), 26-29. Retrieve July 30, 2009 from Masterfile Primier database.
Lubell, J. (2008). Sharing the load. Retrieved August 1, 2009 from Ebscohost database.
Meghji, R. (2007) Healing the work place, smart companies make health a priority, Wellness Inc. Retrieved July 27, 2009 from EBSCOhost database.
Postal, A. (2007, June 11) Bill ends tax inequities on health benefits for same-sex couples. National Underwriter Life & Health, p, 6. Retrieved July 28, 2009 from Gale PowerSearch