According to the Dallas Voice, Dallas-based AT&T Inc. has agreed to grant a leave of absence to gay employee Bryan Dickenson of Garland so he can care for longtime partner Bill Sugg, who recently suffered a debilitating stroke.
Initially, AT&T had denied Dickenson the same leave that a straight married employee would rbe granted under the Family Medical Leave Act. The FMLA does not cover gays and lesbians.
The Dallas Voice reported that AT&T told them (Dallas Voice) that AT&T does not grant leave to same-sx partners unless required to do so by state laws, and such a law is not in place in Texas.
The company reversed its decision this past Friday and reportedly has agreed to enact new policies ensuring that registered domestic partners receive FMLA-equivalent leave.
AT&T issued a statement which read that the company regrets that there has been confusion over the administration of family leave with respect to registered domestic partners. We have taken steps to ensure that benefits like FMLA are extended to employees with registered domestic partners for the purpose of caring for the partner, regardless of the state in which the employee resides. AT&T has a long history of inclusiveness and we embrace and celebrate diversity of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation in our workforce.
The full story can be found at www.dallasvoice.com, and the story about the earlier rejection that at least partially is responsible for the change in company policy can be found at http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/publish/article_12425.php. Kudos to Dallas Voice for its work in affecting this important change of policy.
Comments
Makes me wonder though if they'd grant FMLA in the state where I live, Virginia, where domestic partnerships are illegal?
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