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Domestic partner benefits get boost in city of West Palm Beach
First city in Palm Beach Co. to approve benefits
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
SHARETHIS
Posted: 9:52 PM
Last Updated: 56 minutes ago
By: Rochelle Ritchie
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - For the first time in Palm Beach County, gay, lesbian and unmarried couples in the city of West Palm Beach will share the same benefits of family sick leave as their married or heterosexual co-workers.
This comes after the city changed a policy only targeted for straight couples.
The president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council says it's another step in the right direction for the gay community.
"All families should be treated equally," says Rand Hoch.
Hoch says keeping his efforts to achieve equal rights at a local level is the only way he's able to see success.
Monday he saw a major change which he says will benefit everyone.
"It’s good for business, employees, moral, and families," he states.
At the newly elected mayor, Jerry Muoio's, first city commission meeting, the commission voted to change a policy that only allowed heterosexual married couples take twelve weeks of sick leave to care for their partner.
Now it is a benefit all couples, regardless of martial status or sexual preference, will be able to use.
"It's gone from a policy they realized was lacking to one that recognizes all families equally. This should be the standard now," said Hoch.
Currently, forty West Palm Beach employees are registered as living in a domestic partnership, with the numbers closely split between gay and straight couples.
Muoio said West Palm Beach needs to be at the forefront of these issues.
“We are the largest city (in the county) and we have the most employees,” Muoio said. “It’s appropriate that we do this.”
Palm Beach Post staff writer Andrew Abramson helped contribute to this report
First city in Palm Beach Co. to approve benefits
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
SHARETHIS
Posted: 9:52 PM
Last Updated: 56 minutes ago
By: Rochelle Ritchie
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - For the first time in Palm Beach County, gay, lesbian and unmarried couples in the city of West Palm Beach will share the same benefits of family sick leave as their married or heterosexual co-workers.
This comes after the city changed a policy only targeted for straight couples.
The president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council says it's another step in the right direction for the gay community.
"All families should be treated equally," says Rand Hoch.
Hoch says keeping his efforts to achieve equal rights at a local level is the only way he's able to see success.
Monday he saw a major change which he says will benefit everyone.
"It’s good for business, employees, moral, and families," he states.
At the newly elected mayor, Jerry Muoio's, first city commission meeting, the commission voted to change a policy that only allowed heterosexual married couples take twelve weeks of sick leave to care for their partner.
Now it is a benefit all couples, regardless of martial status or sexual preference, will be able to use.
"It's gone from a policy they realized was lacking to one that recognizes all families equally. This should be the standard now," said Hoch.
Currently, forty West Palm Beach employees are registered as living in a domestic partnership, with the numbers closely split between gay and straight couples.
Muoio said West Palm Beach needs to be at the forefront of these issues.
“We are the largest city (in the county) and we have the most employees,” Muoio said. “It’s appropriate that we do this.”
Palm Beach Post staff writer Andrew Abramson helped contribute to this report
