The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), in a statement, praised Wal-Mart Stores, the country’s largest private employer, for issuing a new definition of ‘immediate family’ that includes same-sex partners who are recognized by state or local statute.
Wal-Mart’s definition of the term was included in a conflict-of-interest policy the company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Part of the document reads: ‘Immediate family members include (whether by birth, adoption, marriage or Domestic Partnership or Civil Union, if recognized by your state or other local law) your spouse, children, parents, siblings, mothers and fathers-in-law, sons and daughter-in-law and brothers and sisters-in-law.’
Darryl Herrschaft, deputy director for HRC’s workplace project, said that the organization ‘is encouraged by this sign showing America’s
heartland employer understands same-sex couples share the responsibilities that come with being a family. It’s only appropriate for these families to also receive the same benefits as others.’ He added that ‘ [e] very gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employee deserves to be judged by the job they do, not who they are.’
In July 2003, Wal-Mart expanded its non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation. Currently, 228 of Fortune 500 companies (or 48 percent) offer healthcare benefits to employees’ same-sex domestic partners or spouses. Some of Wal-Mart’s competitors, including Best Buy and Home Depot, offer domestic-partner health benefits.