GAY AND LESBIAN MARRIED COUPLES ARE ENTITLED TO THE SAME HEALTH BENEFITS AT WORK AS STRAIGHT COUPLES IN CALIFORNIA
Gay marriage was legalized in California on June 17, 2008 which means that gay and lesbian same sex couples are now entitled to the same health benefits from their employer as straight couples. If you are gay or homosexual, not only can your employer not discriminate against you because of your sexual orientation, but under CA law, your employer must provide you and your partner with health insurance benefits equal to those of a straight couple. This is because benefits provided under state law or employer policy must be provided equally to same-sex spouses as is provided to spouses of the opposite sex. If your employer fails to do this, they are violating you legal rights and discriminating against you due to your sexual orientation. An experienced attorney can help ensure your work place needs are being met.
In addition to gay marriages performed in California, same-sex marriages validly entered into in a state outside California are now recognized as legal in CA and need to be recognized by your employer. This means your partner can be placed on your health plan at work and receive the same health insurance benefits you do.
So what should you do to ensure that you are receiving your legal rights in the workplace? Talk to your employer to ensure that you and your spouse are receiving the health insurance benefits you are entitled to as a gay or lesbian couple. If you feel your employer is not providing you and your partner with the respect and benefits a same sex couples deserves, call the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP at 1-800-252-9776 (1-800-ALAWPRO) for a free consultation in California regarding your legal rights and to hear how one of our experienced employment attorneys may be able to help you. Your call is completely confidential, and we are here to help.
