"Good one, Wal-Mart." Why the praise?
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is expanding the definition of "immediate family" in its employee-ethics policy to account for laws in states that recognize domestic partnerships and civil unions.
The revised policy, disclosed Wednesday in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, recognizes that in some states "immediate family" includes an employee's same-sex partner.
-- "Wal-Mart Redefines 'Immediate Family,'" WaPo, Jan 28, 05
Also worth noting, just for sake of completion:
Wal-Mart adopted the expanded definition in the ethics code to be consistent with recently liberalized state laws regarding domestic partnerships and civil unions in states such as Massachusetts, California and Vermont, said Wal-Mart spokesman Gus Whitcomb. "Wal-Mart is taking the high road in recognizing that gay and lesbian families are part of America, society and the work force. That's encouraging," said Daryl Herrschaft, deputy director of the Human Rights Campaign's WorkPlace project.
Wal-Mart doesn't extend health-insurance benefits to its workers' same-sex partners, unless required to do so by law.
-- "Wal-Mart Shifts a Policy to Include Domestic Partners," WSJ, Jan 28, 05
So we still have to make sure benefits laws are protected, lest we end up with another Ohio.
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