Wal-Mart Gets It...Kind of

On one hand this is a good thing, IMO:

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 change drew quick praise from a major gay-rights lobbying organization.

The revised policy, which was disclosed Wednesday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission recognizes that in some states "immediate family" includes an employee's same-sex partner.

On the other hand, though, this change represents additional responsibilities for Wal-Mart's gay employees, but not necessarily any additional benefits:

The revisions deal with sections of the company's ethics code that bar employees from using confidential information to benefit themselves or immediate family members and from approaching Wal-Mart's suppliers about jobs for immediate family members, the company said Thursday.

Wal-Mart spokesman Gus Whitcomb declined to say whether the change would affect benefits for employees of the nation's largest employer or whether the revision meant the company was taking a position on same-sex marriage or civil unions.

Believing that progess happens best one step at a time, overall I'm happy to see this. Gay Americans should be willing to accept responsibility first and receive benefits second. All Americans should. Let's just hope Wal-Mart's sense of "family" doesn't stop at the first step.

Comments

[sidereal]

"On the other hand, though, this change represents additional responsibilities for Wal-Mart's gay employees, but not necessarily any additional benefits:"

The immediate benefit is recognition, and you can't put a price tag on that.

[votermom]

I think there are big companies that offer health insurance for domestic partners ... I'll try to look up some cites.

[votermom]

This is a 2004 report:
http://hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=18792&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

[Edward]

I think there are big companies that offer health insurance for domestic partners

Plenty of them, big and small, in NYC votermom. Mine does.

Wal-Mart is becoming synonymous with America, though, like Apple Pie and Baseball, so this is progress, IMO.

[Catsy]

Wal-Mart is becoming synonymous with America, though, like Apple Pie and Baseball, so this is progress, IMO.

Which of the three is not like the others? :>

As painful as it is, I'm afraid I have to agree. Wal-Mart is becoming an American icon. I think it's part of the reason why the company's awfulness cuts so deeply to me.

[votermom]

Walmart is as American as McDonald's, Coke, and Texaco, would be how I see it. 8-(

[tomsyl]

Does Wal-Mart's policy extend to a man and a woman that live together but are not married?

[Phil]

Well, tomsyl, given the formulation of the policy in the first paragraph quoted by Edward, I suppose that depends on whether "states that recognize domestic partnerships and civil unions" recognize them between unmarried men and women. Why don't you look that up and let us know?

[tomsyl]

Phil, I think your answer to my question is "answer it yourself." Does anyone have anything more helpful? Thoughts on whether it would apply to , for example, common-law marriages?

[rpate]

I think this will be as helpful to walmart as the recent support by Ford Motor Company was to them....Um..i think a drop in profit by .5 billion in one quarter... WOW