Bass, Berry & Sims attorney David Thornton offers guidance on the recent Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, and how public and private sector employers are struggling with its legal and financial implications. As David explains, “‘[t]hey’re worried that if they keep the same-sex partner benefits, there’s a pretty good argument that opposite-sex partners are being discriminated against.'” Initially, many companies planned to change their coverage plans to cover only married couples, but now many big companies are deciding to extend benefits to unmarried couples in a committed relationship. As David emphasizes in the article, by extending coverage to unmarried couples, companies can attract and retain quality employees.
The full article, “Should Gay Employees Have to Put a Ring On It,” was published by U.S. News & World Report on November 10, 2015 and is available online.