Not only have they found that few employees sign up for these benefits, but the cost to the employer is small. Unmarried employees with permanent partners need medical and dental coverage for their partners. Without these benefits, the employee has the added stress of having to find a way to pay for their partner's medical expenses. Such stress can contribute to lowered work performance and increase absenteeism. Domestic partnership benefits provide equity in compensation.
Benefits make up a large portion of an employee's compensation package.
When one employee is eligible for fewer benefits than another due to marital status, that employee is being paid less for the same work. Lesbian and gay men aren't permitted to marry legally. Many lesbian and gay employees would marry their partners if they could. They shouldn't be discriminated against because they cannot legally marry. Government should help strengthen healthy families, even though not every family may look the same.