Google Adding Pay to Cover Tax for Same-Sex Couples

Google is well know for going above and beyond to attract and retain

great employees. The benefits they offer are near to legendary,

including an on site doctor, yoga, massage, free snacks and free lunches.

Now, Google is once again breaking new ground in employee

care by offering to cover the costs that gay and lesbian employees

pay for dependent benefits. 



In stark contrast to the standard employee benefits for heterosexual couples, most state

governments and the federal government treat dependent coverage for same sex domestic

partners as taxable earned income, which raises the tax burden for gay and lesbians who carry

insurance for their same sex partner. According to American Progress, employees with partners

now pay on average $1,069 per year more in taxes than would a married employee with the same

coverage.

In a recent press release, Google stated it's new plan to cover this additional cost.  

“We said, ‘You’re right, that doesn’t seem fair,’ so we looked into it,” Mr. Bock said.

“From that initial suggestion, we said, let’s take a look at all the benefits we offer and

see if we are being truly fair across the board.”  
The search giant also decided to make a few other changes that would help level the playing field for

its gay employees, including-

• Eliminating a one year waiting period before qualifying for infertility benefits

• Including domestic partners in its family leave policy that goes about and beyond the Family Medical and Leave Act, which makes employers provide up to 12 weeks leave to recover from an illness or to provide care for a family member.

The extra compensation to cover the domestic partner tax will apply only to same-sex domestic partners, Mr. Bock said, because heterosexual couples can avoid the added tax by marrying. (Same-sex couples can make their unions official in several states, but their relationship will not be federally recognized.)