A majority of HR professionals say that that the federal government shouldn't offer the same benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees as it does to spouses of federal employees, according to a poll by HR.BLR.com and Compensation.BLR.com.
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Get Your Report Now!Fifty-five percent of respondents said they oppose extending the same benefits to sax-sex partners of federal employees as spouses of federal employees receive.
More than 230 individuals responded to the survey, which was conducted online beginning June 22.
Earlier in June, President Barack Obama signed a memorandum expands the benefits for same-sex partners of federal employees. However, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which limits marriage to opposite-sex couples, prohibited Obama from extending all federal benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees. The administration identified a list of benefits that Obama is authorized to expend to the same-sex partners of federal employees. Benefits on the list include sick leave to care for a same-sex partner and long-term care.
In the memo, Obama asked the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to extend those benefits to the same-sex partners of federal employees as long as it is consistent with federal law.
He has also asked Congress to repeal DOMA and approve the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009, which would extend the same benefits to same-sex partners as spouses receive.