About Benefits
Workplace Benefits for LGBT Employees and Their Families
In MetLife’s 2007 "Study of Employee Benefits Trends," 80 percent of employees who were "highly satisfied" with their benefits expressed strong job satisfaction, 70 percent said their benefits package was a reason for joining their current employer and 83 percent said it was a factor in staying with the business. And more than half of employers rank "retaining employees" as their top benefits goal.
In 2001, 100 million workers were covered by employment-based health benefits, extending employment-based health benefits to more than 162 million Americans under age 65.
For those LGBT employees with partners and children not eligible for those benefits, this disparity in compensation and perceived value is profound.
And for transgender employees who are often denied insurance coverage for even their most basic wellness needs, the difference is sometimes a matter of life or death.
As a result, LGBT employees commonly switch to employers with inclusive health insurance coverage for themselves and their families, and they increasingly ask for these benefits during the application or interview process. Employers each year report more cases to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation where they made an offer to an applicant, but were turned down when the applicant found out the employer did not offer same-sex partner benefits.
