From: gklein@uoft02.utoledo.edu (Gary Klein, bear-at-heart)
Newsgroups: soc.motss
Subject: Re: EE statements (was: Re: Attention Skiers Boycotting Colorado)
Date: 31 Dec 92 22:53:32 EST
Organization: Univ of Toledo

In article <1hven4INN8ri@hp-col.col.hp.com>, smithw@col.hp.com (Walter Smith)
 writes:
> rjwill6@PacBell.COM (Rod Williams) writes:

>> ...  And bennies like
>> Tuition Aid, gym membership, credit union membership, special
>> life insurance group rates, for example, are usually not made
>> available to unmarried partners (and their dependants)...

> Agreed.  I don't know that these are EE issues, though.  
                                       ||Employment
                                       Equal

     What do you think the word EQUAL means?

     How can ANYONE say that they stand behind their EQUAL rights and EQUAL
employment opportunities guidebooks, and then stand their and deny ME & MY
spouse EMPLOYEE benefits which are designed to make employees Happier & Better
employees!

     "Some people are created more equal than others"

     Why should only HETEROSEXUAL spouses be given such benefits as:
1) TUITION REIMBURSEMENT
2) HEALTH CLUB/GYM REIMBURSEMENT
3) BEREAVEMENT LEAVE with pay
4) HOMEYMOON LEAVE with pay (Zsa Zsa Gabor & Mickey Rooney make out like
                             bandits at some companies that give a full
                             weeks worth of extra vacation with EACH marriage)
5) CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP
6) SPOUSAL EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE (when relocating the principal employee to 
                                  another region/division)
7) INVITATIONS TO ATTEND COMPANY FUNCTIONS
     -picnics   -awards dinners   -holiday dinners   -dances   -bowling nights
     -retirement parties
8) VACTIONS & TRIPS AS BONUSES or conferences at resorts
     -often time specifying "husbands/wives only" when the company picks up the
      entire tab for the resort trip
9) MEDICAL INSURANCE
10) DENTAL INSURANCE
11) OPTICAL INSURANCE
12) RIGHTS OF SURVIVORSHIP on specific employee benefit plans:
      -Employee Stock Options
      -Employee Stock Purchas Plans
      -Profit Sharing Plans
      -Pension Plans
      -Peformance/Bonus Plans
13) PERSONAL PHONE CALLS AT THE OFFICE
      Some employers specifically have written policies allowing 1 personal
phone call per day to "family members", but where does that put the homosexual
employee?

      That was the NUMBER ONE reason why I came out to my co-workers when I
worked at the Bank.  Everyone else in my department would know in an instant if
their spouse was calling up, but why should our secretary treat my boyfriend
simply as "someone who tried contacting while you were in a meeting", instead
of interrupting the meeting as would be done for husbands/wives.

          I AM SURE THAT I LEFT OUT SOME OTHER SPOUSAL RELATED
          BENEFITS THAT ADD UP RATHER QUICKLY...  the purpose of
          "employee benefits" is to offer non-monetary incentives
          which make THAT particular workplace a more interesting
          place for the employee to be MORE PRODUCTIVE and operate
          in a less stressfull environment.

          Why should SOME employees be denied access to these benefits?

     Why should corporations worry about the "concept" of Equal Employment?
Does each employer have the RIGHT to limit each and every employee/spousal
benefit as they see fit, and still be exempt from prosecution under EEOC
regulations?

     Walter discusses this:
> ...
> Because they are the company, and that is their right.  If they 
> think it is good business to pay people who either have a family 
> or are likely to be saving for one (married people) that is 
> their perogative.  It may seem unfair, but I don't know that 
> it qualifies as an EE problem...

     Walter, how would you feel if your employer turned out to be a gay rights
activist, and revoked everyone of those 13 spousal benefits that I listed, from 
YOU, while granting those benefits to your homosexual coworkers!

     "But that is a hypothetical example you are raising"

     Yeah, but that still doesn't answer how YOU would feel if you found out
that you were denied THIRTEEN EMPLOYEE BENEFITS that some of your colleagues
were receiving.

     Do you have a bit more of an understanding as to where some of us are
coming from, when we froth at the mouth when someone thinks that it is
perfectly okay to treat homosexuals as second class citizens.

     IT IS BAD ENOUGH THAT PEOPLE BASH US, BURN OUR HOUSES DOWN, THROW US INTO
RIVERS, RUN US DOWN, and then they have the balls to claim that gays are
working on a "hidden agenda" to get "special rights"!

     Special Rights!

     I just want to live a quiet & peaceful life!  And with the same salary &
employee benefits as my co-worker who has the same job title, qualifications,
experience and performance evaluation ratings that I get!

     WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT EQUAL TREATMENT!

"Hate is NOT a family value"
-- 
"Not your average Leathered Librarian"
      * * * *          Gary Klein,   Business Librarian,   Univ of Toledo
       *   *                     P.O.Box 12650 / Toledo OH 43606
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         *             BITNET: fac2813@uoft01           FAX: 419-537-2726
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