Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Drive Software
MEMO
To: All Employees
From: Alexis Wilber, HR Manager
RE: Health Insurance for Same-sex Partners
________________________________________________________________________
Drive Software has received recent requests suggesting that partners of same-sex couples
should be able to be added to the company-provided health insurance plan through North
Carolina Insurance.
Human Resources took these requests into account and addressed this important concern
to our best abilities.
We regret to inform you that, at this time, the company cannot fulfill this request due to
our economic situation and policies set in place by our state and insurance plan. Although
we do have a non-discrimination policy, same-sex marriage is currently not legal in North
Carolina. Because of this, North Carolina Insurance cannot insure that insurance
premiums will substantially rise.
Management will still be reviewing all possible options, and will keep you informed if
changes occur.
Thank you for your valued patience and support throughout this process.
Research Report
Summary
The goal of this report was to review all possible advantages, disadvantages, and legal
implications that go into a company providing health benefits for same sex partners of
employees. To be able to complete this goal, the health insurance plans of two similar,
competitive software companies, IT Software and Live Software, were reviewed.
Introduction
Recently, many companies have had to look into allowing same-sex partners of
employees to be added to the company health insurance plan. This change in policy has
been very important in promoting workplace equality, but has also brought up many legal
and economic problems.
IT Software
IT Software recently addressed this issue. Although same-sex marriage is currently not
legal in North Carolina, they were still able to change their insurance policy to allow
partners of same-sex employees to be added to the health insurance plan, but this was a
very lengthy and difficult process. IT Software had to switch their entire insurance plan
to a smaller, private insurance company that would allow this additional policy. Through
switching plans, the costs of their insurance premiums skyrocketed.
Live Software
Live Software, based in New York, also recently changed their health insurance plan to
allow partners of same-sex couples to be added. This process went very smoothly and in
a timely manner due to the fact that same-sex marriage recently became legal in New
York. Once same-sex marriage became legal, Insurance companies quickly changed their
policy options allowing companies to simply make the decision if they wanted to allow
partners of same-sex employees to be added to the policy.
Methods
This research report was conducted through the extensive review of al the implications
that take place in allowing partners of same-sex employees to be added to the companys
health insurance plan, primarily focusing on the recent policy changes made by IT
Software and Live Software.
Results
The changes in policy made in the similar, competitive companies of IT Software and
Live Software proved that no matter the circumstance, there is a possibility for partners
of same-sex employees to be added to the company health insurance plan. On the other
hand, in states where same-sex marriage is not legal, this is a very expensive and tedious
process that could greatly cost the company. Hopefully, in the future, same-sex marriage
will be legal in all states, allowing companies to best provide for their valued employees.