HRC Submits Testimony in Support of Lesbian and Gay Family-Friendly Workplace Policy
March 23, 2009
By Cristina Finch, HRC's senior counsel:
This month, the House Committee on Education and Labor Workforce Protections Subcommittee held a hearing on family-friendly workplace policies. The Subcommittee heard testimony from witnesses stressing the importance of expanding paid leave, increasing access to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and providing paid sick leave to workers. HRC submitted testimony expressing the need for such legislation to fully cover families headed by lesbian and gay couples. According to the last State of the Workplace report, 182 of the Fortune 500 companies that have FMLA-equivalent benefits for same-sex partners. HRC has also been working with Members of Congress to introduce legislation that would extend these benefits to our families. A bill to expand the FMLA to families headed by lesbian and gay couples will soon be introduced in the 111th Congress. The FMLA Inclusion Act, introduced in the 110th Congress by Representative Carolyn Maloney, (D-NY) would expand the FMLA to permit an employee to take up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave from work if his or her domestic partner or same-sex spouse has a serious health condition. Another key piece of legislation for HRC is the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act (DPBO) introduced in the 110th Congress and soon to be introduced in the 111th Congress by Representative Baldwin (D-WI). The Act would provide domestic partnership benefits to the same-sex partners of federal civilian employees on the same basis as spousal benefits. These benefits would include participation in applicable retirement programs, compensation for work injuries, and long-term care and life insurance benefits. Access to these benefits is crucial to ensuring that our families are able to take the time they need to care for their loved ones. We commend the Subcommittee for holding this important hearing and call on Congress to pass family-friendly workplace legislation that includes our families. Because no one should have to choose between their paycheck and their family. Read the full testimony submitted by HRC (PDF) here: Human Rights Campaign House Hearing - Family Friendly 111th
