Domestic Partner Benefits? 45% Offer or Plan to Offer (Survey Results)

By Stephen D. Bruce, PHR
Editor, HR Daily Advisor

However, 53% of organizations do not offer domestic partner benefits at all, and have no plans to do so. Of the 93% percent of respondents that offer spousal benefits to benefit-eligible U.S. employees, a little over half (55%) offer these benefits to different-sex spouses only.

The Spousal and Domestic Partner Benefits survey, conducted in September 2011, received 604 responses, of which just over 70% originated from organizations with fewer than 500 employees.

Additional Findings:

• Just under 70% of organizations offering domestic partner benefits require a Domestic Partner Affidavit or other certification of the domestic partner relationship.
• Few organizations offer retirement benefits, including detailed benefits plans or hardship distribution options, to either spouses or domestic partners.
• Amongst other benefits most commonly offered to spouses and/or domestic partners, are an employee assistance program (EAP), FMLA leave, bereavement leave, and attendance at employer events/functions.

The tables below present the detailed national results. [Go here for detailed breakdowns by company size, geographical region, and organization type.]

---

Find out what the buzz is all about. Take a no-cost look at HR.BLR.com, solve your top problem, and get a complimentary gift.

---

                                                                                   
Q1. Does your organization offer benefits to SPOUSES of benefit-eligible U.S. employees?

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Yes, organization-wide	92.7%	558
Yes, in certain sections of the organization	1.7%	10
No, but plan to in the next 12 months	0.5%	3
No, but plan to at some point	0.7%	4
No, with no plans to	3.8%	23
Unsure	0.7%	4
	answered question	602
	skipped question	2

Q2. For how long has your organization been offering SPOUSAL benefits?

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Less than a year	1.4%	8
1-3 years	3.2%	19
4-6 years	4.3%	25
7-9 years	3.6%	21
More than 10 years	82.1%	482
Unsure	5.5%	32
	answered question	587
	skipped question	17

Q3. Does you organization offer SPOUSAL benefits to:

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Different sex spouses only	54.9%	304
Same sex spouses only	6.1%*	34*
Different and same sex spouses	35.7%	198
Unsure	3.2%	18
	answered question	554
	skipped question	50

*Note; this response puzzles us; it’s not clear in what situation an organization would offer benefits to same sex spouses but not to different sex spouses. Any readers care to enlighten us?

Q4. Does your organization require dependent eligibility or proof of relationship documentation for SAME SEX spouses, beyond what it requires for OPPOSITE SEX spouses?

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Yes	18.8%	84
No	64.6%	288
Unsure	16.6%	74
	answered question	446
	skipped question	158

Q5. A domestic partner of an employee is usually classed as a person who has attained a minimum age (typically 18) and has been sharing a committed, exclusive relationship for at least six months with the employee, to whom they are not related,  with both partners being financially interdependent.  Does your organization offer benefits to DOMESTIC PARTNERS of benefit-eligible U.S. employees?

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Yes, organization-wide	36.2%	207
Yes, in certain sections of the organization	1.9%	11
No, but plan to in the next 12 months	1.6%	9
No, but plan to at some point	4.9%	28
No, with no plans to	53.3%	305
Unsure	2.1%	12
	answered question	572
	skipped question	32

---

HR budget cuts? Let us help. HR.BLR.com is your one-stop solution for all your HR compliance and training needs. Take a no-cost, no-obligation trial and get a complimentary copy of our special report Critical HR Recordkeeping — From Hiring to Termination. It’s yours — no matter what you decide.

---

Q6. For how long has your organization been offering DOMESTIC PARTNER benefits?

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Less than a year	9.6%	21
1-3 years	30.3%	66
4-6 years	21.6%	47
7-9 years	8.3%	18
More than 10 years	22.0%	48
Unsure	8.3%	18
	answered question	218
	skipped question	386

Q7. Does you organization offer DOMESTIC PARTNER benefits to:

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Different sex domestic partners only	6.5%	14
Same sex domestic partners only	19.0%	41
Different and same sex domestic partners	72.2%	156
Unsure	2.3%	5
	answered question	216
	skipped question	388

Q8. Does your organization ask for a Domestic Partner Affidavit to certify a domestic partnership?  (This is a document which sets out benefit eligibility requirements for domestic partners and which is confirmed and signed by both partners).

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Yes	69.3%	147
No	26.9%	57
Unsure	3.8%	8
	answered question	212
	skipped question	392

Q9. Does your organization ask for any other types of dependent eligibility or proof of relationship documentation for domestic partnerships?

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Yes	35.8%	76
No	58.5%	124
Unsure	5.7%	12
	answered question	212
	skipped question	392

Q10. Which of the following health insurance benefits does your organization offer to spouses and domestic partners of benefits-eligible U.S. employees?

Answer Options	Offered to spouses & domestic partners	Offered to spouses only	Offered to domestic partners only	Not offered to either	Response Count
Health/ medical	216	320	2	15	553
Dental	206	307	2	29	544
Vision	167	244	2	100	513
				answered question	554
				skipped question	50

Q11. If your organization offers health insurance benefits to spouses, are they offered to:

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Different sex spouses only	56.1%	310
Same sex spouses only	5.1%	28
Different and same sex spouses	34.2%	189
Unsure	3.6%	20
We don’t offer health insurance benefits to spouses	1.1%	6
	answered question	553
	skipped question	51

Q12. Which of the following retirement benefits does your organization offer to spouses and domestic partners of benefits-eligible U.S. employees?

Answer Options	Offered to spouses & domestic partners	Offered to spouses only	Not offered to either	Response Count
Defined benefit plan: Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity	34	135	345	514
Defined benefit plan: Qualified pre-retirement Survivor Annuity	25	98	375	498
Hardship distribution option	17	88	396	501
			answered question	522
			skipped question	82

Q13. Which of the following other benefits does your organization offer to spouses and domestic partners of benefits-eligible U.S. employees?

Answer Options	Offered to spouses & domestic partners	Offered to spouses only	Offered to partners only	Not offered to either	Response Count
FMLA	105	185	0	212	502
Bereave ment leave	137	138	1	227	503
Employer-provided supplemental life insurance	58	194	1	241	494
Relocation/ travel assistance	29	54	0	406	489
Adoption benefit	24	50	0	416	490
Employee discounts	86	87	0	320	493
Employee assistance program	147	164	1	188	500
Access to employer facilities	129	49	0	314	492
Attendance at employer events/functions	334	66	1	97	498
				answered question	513
				skipped question	91

Q14. If your organization offers other benefits to spouses, are they offered to:

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Different sex spouses only	31.7%	161
Same sex spouses only	3.9%	20
Different and same sex spouses	22.8%	116
Unsure	4.1%	21
We don’t offer other benefits to spouses	37.4%	190
	answered question	508
	skipped question	96

Q15. Does your organization offer benefits to eligible dependents (for example, children) of domestic partners?

Answer Options	Response Percent	Response Count
Yes to different sex partners	34.7%	180
Yes to same sex partners	26.4%	137
None offered	48.8%	253
Unsure	10.6%	55
	answered question	518
	skipped question	86

Go here for detailed breakdowns by company size, geographical region, and organization type.]

Thanks to all who participated in this survey. Upcoming topics include:

• Social Media
• Heathcare
• Flexible Work Policies

More Articles on E-pinions