Spousal and Partner Benefits: Fortune 500 Compaines

Spousal and Partner Benefits

Fortune 500 Companies Moving with the Times

Introduction

In today’s evolving world it is important for companies to evolve with the times. In recent turns of events many companies have decided to provide benefits not only to traditionally married couples, but also to domestic partners to include gay and lesbian couples. Two such Fortune 500 companies that have taken this route are Wal-Mart and Google. Google placed on the Top 100 list of Best Companies to work for in 2012 on CNNMoney and provided the added perk of partner benefits (2012). Wal-Mart, after falling to the number two of the Fortune 500 list in 2011, rose to the #1 spot in 2012 (CNNMoney, 2013).

Requirements for Benefits & Marriage and/or Partner Change

Usually within businesses there are stringent requirements that must be met before an employee and his family receives benefits, but within Google, the benefits become active at employment. There is, however, a time requirement for Wal-Mart for both spouses and domestic parterres and they are equal. The following are some the benefits that both companies provide for their employees, employee spouses, and employee’s domestic partners. :

* Medical and Health Care: Google’s HMO premiums are 100% for employees and same sex domestic partner coverage is also available (NY Job Source, 2013). Health benefits at Google are intact when the employee is hired. On the contrary, Wal-Mart requires, regardless of sexual orientation, that the couple (spouse or domestic partner) live together for a minimum of a year (Banjo, 2013). Wal-Mart also requires that couples are engaged in an ongoing and a monogamous relationship (Banjo, 2013)

* Death Benefits: Google provides death benefits the spouse or the domestic partner in the amount 50% of the deceased employee’s salary for 10 years (Pepitone, 2012). There was no information found on the death benefits offered by Wal-Mart.

* Stocks: Both companies give the option of...