Walmart Will Begin Offering Same-Sex Domestic Partnership Benefits In 2014

[DonViejo]

Source: ThinkProgress

BY JOSH ISRAEL ON AUGUST 27, 2013 AT 12:34 PM

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, will reportedly begin offering domestic partnership benefits for same-sex couples, according to documents obtained by Towleroad. Benefits for same-sex partners, like same-sex spouses, would include “medical, dental, vision, life insurance, discount cards, family leave, 401K, and critical illness and accident insurance,” and be available in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

The document explains:

We operate in 50 states, hundreds of municipalities, and Puerto Rico, and as clarified under the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) each of these states are developing different definitions of marriage, domestic partner, civil union, etc. By developing a single definition for all Walmart associates in the U.S. and Puerto Rico we are able to ensure consistency for associates in various markets.

In order to remain competitive in terms of attracting and retaining great talent to our company, we’re extending our benefits package to include domestic partners.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/08/27/2534411/walmart-domestic-partnership/

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[Safetykitten]

1. Will anyone there be on a healthplan?

[valerief]

4. My first thought, too. I thought most employees didn't qualify for covered medical care. nt

[ellenfl]

5. me, three. a very easy concession for wally world, except for the fundies they'll lose. eom

[4Q2u2]

2. Does that mean all the Fundies

will have to shop elsewhere. Boy that is going to really put their Leave unto God what is Gods and Leave unto Cesar what is Cesar's in a quandary.
I am really going to miss all those spectacular outfits on POWalmart.

[Berlin Expat]

3. "I felt a great disturbance in the Force,

as if millions of wingnut heads suddenly exploded in rage, and were suddenly silenced."

[totodeinhere]

6. Of course offering same-sex domestic partnership benefits is the right

thing to do and it's long overdue.

But the problem is that benefits offered by Walmart suck. Their health insurance plans have high premiums, high deductibles and high co-payments and many of their employees don't qualify to get the benefits because they don't work enough hours.

They are also notorious of course for fighting any efforts by their employees to unionize and they pay slave wages. They are going to have to do a lot more than this.

[thelordofhell]

7. Wait a minute.......Walmart has benefits??

When did this happen??

[ellenfl]

8. does anyone have the coverage stats? tia eom

[eggplant]

9. Great news for the two employees this affects.

Two is an estimate, of course, but probably within +/- 2.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. For 100% of their workforce or for only those at 'world headquarters'?

[Kelvin Mace]

11. Twice nothing is still nothing

I will rush right out and double the number of Klingon Battle Cruisers I have protecting the solar system from invasion, to celebrate.

[BillyRibs]

12. That means shortened

Hours for everybody so they don't have to pay for it.

[WestSeattle2]

13. But they frequently fire or harrass gay staff until they quit. What good

does offering partnership benefits to domestic partners do? I guess it helps WM identify staff they'll fire for being gay.

[hatrack]

14. What benefits would those be? Food stamps? Shitty health insurance?

Wow, real step forward there.

[lin_e65]

15. There has been talk...

that Walmart wants to get into the health insurance business. Can you imagine what that would look like? The taxpayer would be footing most of the bill!!

[LittleGirl]

16. big deal - I still won't shop there

they are the evil empire that destroyed America from within.