Domestic Partner Benefits in Wisconsin and the Midwest

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1 Page 1 of 12 Domestic Partner Benefits in Wisconsin and the Midwest This page concentrates on keeping an accurate record of domestic partner benefits offered by companies based in or with a strong presence in Wisconsin, and by colleges and universities in neighboring Midwestern states. However, it is becoming more and more out-of-date and difficult to maintain given my limited free time. Disclaimer: while my goal is to only list correct information that I have verified personally through what appear to be official sources (some electronic, some by phone, some in person), no guarantee is made of the accuracy of the information on this page. If you are writing a research paper, proposing a DP benefits program to your company, or considering a career move, I strongly encourage you to use this only as a starting point, and that you obtain verification (possibly in writing) from the organization in question. Items labelled "UNKNOWN" or "UNCLEAR" are only leads to investigate. Request: Please feel free to notify me of other interesting DP-related or midwestern resources, or of corrections or broken links, using the address at the bottom of this page. You may submit information on a company or organization in Wisconsin or the Midwest using the DP benefits submission form. To cut through the jargon and misinformation, and to locate information on insurers willing to write group policies including domestic partners in Wisconsin, check out Action Wisconsin's guide to Domestic Partner Benefits in Wisconsin. Table of Contents DP Benefits in Wisconsin Companies/Organizations Headquartered in Wisconsin Companies with a Presence in Wisconsin DP Benefits in Midwest: Colleges and Universities; Public & Research Employers Big Ten (Big 10) Universities Illinois Iowa Michigan Minnesota Other Domestic Partnership Resources Handling Employment Discrimination in Wisconsin

2 Page 2 of 12 Domestic Partnership Benefits in Wisconsin If a benefit isn't listed, it's because to my knowledge, it is not provided. Companies/Organizations Headquartered in Wisconsin 3-D Manufacturing, Inc., Shawano: compliance with San Francisco Equal Benefits Ordinance Source: San Francisco Human Rights Commission AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Superior, Wausau: health insurance, bereavement leave, sick leave, events Source: HR department Alliant Energy, Madison: health insurance since 1998 Source: HR department Alliant Precision Fuze, Janesville: health insurance Source: HR department American Family Insurance: health insurance starting in Source: media coverage Beloit College, Beloit: health insurance benefit Source: phone call to Public Affairs department; college web site Berbee, Madison: health insurance ; corporate web site Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee: health insurance Source: university web site CUNA Mutual Insurance Group, Madison: bereavement and family illness leave; health insurance starting in 2002 per union contract Source: phone call; media reports Dane, County of: bereavement and family illness leave; health insurance began December 2000 Source: phone call; press accounts Dean Health Systems, Madison: health insurance, bereavement leave, sick leave Source: an employee Domestic Abuse Intervention Services, Madison: health insurance Source: (somewhat old) press account Eastbay, Wausau: health insurance Source: submission from a reader of this web page Edgewood College, Madison: sick and bereavement leave Source: conversation with employee

3 Page 3 of 12 Epic Systems Corporation, Madison: health insurance for same-sex domestic partners of employees (and children of domestic partners); bereavement and family illness leave Source: conversation with employee Foley & Lardner, Milwaukee, Madison: health insurance Source: jobs.findlaw.com firm information listing General Casualty Insurance Companies, Sun Prairie: health insurance Source: HR department Johnson Wax Professional, Racine: all benefits, including health insurance that are extended to spouses Source: staff at corporate headquarters Kimberly-Clark, Neenah: health insurance and dental insurance (both opposite-sex and same-sex couples), January 2006 Kruger International, Green Bay: compliance with San Francisco Equal Benefits Ordinance Source: San Francisco Human Rights Commission La Crosse School District: health insurance, possibly for teachers only Source: district staff Land's End, Dodgeville: beginning January of 2003, health care coverage, dental coveage, vision and life insurance. Source: Action Wisconsin/benefits director Lawrence University, Appleton: reimbursement for independent purchase of individual health insurance policy for domestic partner Source: phone call to HR department Madison, City of: bereavement and family illness leave; health insurance reimbursement plan Source: phone call; press accounts; council minutes Notes: Bus Drivers do not have access to reimbursement plan due to their union's (Teamsters Local 695) unwillingness to sign the memorandum approving it, during ongoing contract negotiations. Madison Area Technical College: new full-time faculty/staff contract will provide health insurance. This begins in or after Source: a trustee of the board Madison Gas & Electric: health insurance as of Jan. 1, Madison Metropolitan School District: health insurance; bereavement and family illness leave; Source: local press MBI Publishing (transportation book publisher), Osceola: DP benefits as a Chronicle Publishing property in 1999; but since has been sold to Flagship Partners of New York City Source: National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee: health insurance

4 Page 4 of 12 Source: college web site and HR staff Mental Health Center of Dane County, Madison: health insurance Meriter Hospital, Madison: health insurance, dental insurance, and employer web site Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District: health insurance, for teachers only Source: district staff Miller Brewing, Milwaukee: health insurance Source: corporate web site; HRC WorkNet web site list, Milwaukee, City of: health insurance for represented employees of AFSCME local, to begin Northland College, Ashland: tuition waiver for professional staff Source: college web site Oscar Mayer, Madison: For Kraft Foods, of which Oscar Mayer is a subsidiary, all benefits available to legal spouse are available to domestic partner, effective January Will include health insurance PharMerica, Glendale: health insurance; "full domestic partner benefits" Source: job ads on Internet, in paper Sherwin Industries, Milwaukee: compliance with San Francisco Equal Benefits Ordinance Source: San Francisco Human Rights Commission Shorewood Hills, Village of: DPs of village employees qualify for family membership to village pool Sonic Foundry, Madison: health insurance Source: HR department Spherion, Madison: health insurance Source: HR department State of Wisconsin: some state employee unions have bereavement and family illness leave some state employee unions are requesting health insurance for DPs as part of their bargaining Sullivan Schein Dental, West Allis: compliance with San Francisco Equal Benefits Ordinance Source: San Francisco Human Rights Commission Sun Prairie Area School District: health insurance, possibly for teachers only, beginning Fall 2001 Source: district staff TDS/CS (Computing Services): bereavement and family illness leave Source: ThedaCare, Appleton: health insurance, sick/bereavement leave, dental coverage, life insurance, long-term care coverage University of Wisconsin System: Health insurance is not provided due to control by statutes implemented by the State of Wisconsin's Department of Employee Trust Funds.

5 Page 5 of 12 System-wide benefits that are available: bereavement and family illness leave is available for faculty and academic staff for spouses or domestic partners; for classified staff, it depends on the collective bargaining unit (the employee union) and the fair-mindedness of its leadership optional dental plan; accidental death and dismemberment plan; and individual & family life insurance, for non-represented employees (faculty, academic staff, non-represented classified staff) Campus benefits: UW-Eau Claire campus: Faculty/Staff spousal ID cards issued to domestic partners. UW-La Crosse campus: Campus domestic partnership policy for soft benefits. UW-Madison campus: Campus domestic partnership policy for soft benefits. Also: Students: student health insurance plan (SHIP) organized by University Health Services bereavement and family illness leave for graduate assistants (by union contract) Faculty/Staff: bereavement and family illness leave for faculty and academic staff (UW-System personnel guideline) out-of-state tuition remission for partner of new employee for first 12 months, for parity with out-of-state tuition exemption provided to spouses under state law Sources: employee benefits documents; local media; phone calls; UW-Madison CEBC web site UW-Milwaukee campus: Campus domestic partnership policy for soft benefits. UW-Stevens Point campus: Campus domestic partnership policy for soft benefits. UW Credit Union: health insurance; bereavement and family illness leave Source: correspondence with staff; job ads UW Foundation: health insurance Source: Western Wisconsin Technical College, La Crosse: health insurance Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), Madison: health insurance Source: correspondence with staff WFRV-TV (TV Station), Green Bay: DP benefits as a CBS property Source: National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association WISN (TV Station), Milwaukee: DP benefits as a Hearst property

6 Page 6 of 12 Source: National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association WITI (TV Station), Milwaukee: DP benefits as a Fox Entertainment Group property Source: National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association Companies with a Presence in Wisconsin Location of headquarters is parenthesized. American Express, Madison, Milwaukee (?): health insurance ; press accounts Ameritech, locations statewide (parent: SBC Communications, based in St. Louis): health insurance Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Madison, Brookfield, Wauwatosa, Greenfield, Glendale, Racine, Grand Chute, La Crosse (New York): health insurance (full-time employees) Source: phone call to local bookstore Bank One, Madison, Green Bay, Milwaukee (Illinois): health insurance Source: Corporate web site Best Buy, various locations: health insurance Borders Bookstore, Madison, Eau Claire, Fox Point (Michigan): health insurance (full-time employees) Source: inquiry at bookstore Cray Research, Chippewa Falls & Rice Lake (Minnesota): health insurance Source: phone call to headquarters DaimlerChrylser, Kenosha (Michigan): health insurance, as of Aug. 1, 2000 Source: multiple press accounts Datex-Ohmeda: investigating further efunds, Glendale and New Berlin (Phoenix, Arizona): health insurance, and HRC WorkNet web site list, Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Madison (Texas): health and dental insurance Source: Classified job ads; corporate web site Fortis (New York): health insurance Source: anonymous submission The Gap, Eau Claire, Wausau, Green Bay, Appleton, La Crosse, Madison, Brookfield (California): health insurance Source: Wisconsin State Journal General Electric, various: health insurance Source: HRC list General Motors, Janesville (Michigan): health insurance, as of Aug. 1, 2000 Source: multiple press accounts

7 Page 7 of 12 GTECH, Madison (Rhode Island): health insurance Source: corporate web site Home Depot, Appleton, Delafield, Franklin, Grafton, Grand Chute, Green Bay, Janesville, Kohler, Madison, Milwaukee, Onalaska, Racine, Rhinelander, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, West Allis (Georgia): may have limited benefits, (e.g. sick leave); health insurance may be coming since they were providing PET insurance!! Source: press account International Business Machines (IBM), Madison (New York): medical, dental, vision benefits, beginning Jan. 1, 1997; available to 110,000 U.S. employees, but not to all non-u.s. employees Source: multiple press accounts of announcement Jamba Juice, Madison (California?): health insurance Source: corporate web site Kinkos, Appleton, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Pewaukee (California): health insurance Source: corporate web site. Note: employees may have to travel to Chicago or Minneapolis for covered care. Kraft Foods: all benefits available to legal spouse are available to domestic partner, effective January Will include health insurance Marshall Field's, Madison (Minnesota): was owned by Target Corporation, so may have same benefits, but was sold to another department store chain (May) who may or may not (aha) offer them still. The Nature Conservancy, Madison (Washington, D.C.): health insurance Source: input from site visitor Northern States Power, various (Minnesota): health insurance and bereavement leave (non-union employees); both same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners Source: phone call to employement office Northwest Airlines (Minnesota): health insurance; however, Mesaba and Pinnacle, operators of "Northwest Airlink" might not be. Source: Press accounts Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), Madison (Washington State): health insurance (all employees); both same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners Source: phone call to headquarters SSM Health Care, Madison [St Mary's Hospital], Baraboo (Missouri): health insurance for adult domiciled with employee Source: press account Starbucks: health insurance Source: press accounts Target, statewide stores (Minnesota): health insurance Source: to headquarters Tektronix, Madison and various (Oregon): Allows use of sick leave to care for same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partners; possibly bereavement leave as well (staff member was unsure). Source: phone call to headquarters

8 Page 8 of 12 Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI), Madison and various (Colorado): following agreement with San Francisco Board of Supervisors, will offer some sort of benefits to domestic partners of employees at all locations Source: phone call to Madison administrative office Tyco (and ADT Security), Madison, Milwaukee (Bermuda): health insurance, bereavement leave, company events Source: an employee US Bancorp, Milwaukee, La Crosse (Minnesota): compliance with San Francisco Equal Benefits Ordinance; pending merger with Firstar into "US Bank", benefits are under review Source: San Francisco Human Rights Commission Walgreens, various: health insurance (source: Human Rights Campaign) Whole Foods Market, Madison (Texas): health insurance (employees over 24 hrs/week); both same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners Source: customer service desk at Madison store Domestic Partnership Benefits in States Bordering Wisconsin: Colleges, Universities, Public Employers, Research Institutions If a benefit isn't listed, it's because to my knowledge, it is not provided. Domestic Partner Benefits at Big Ten Universities: compilation and links to policies at the Big Ten Universities in the Midwest Illinois Chicago Transit Authority: health insurance Source: press account City of Chicago: health insurance Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago: does NOT offer health insurance, although offers some other benefits Source: with museum HR staff Illinois State University, Normal: sick and bereavement leave; health insurance reimbursement Source: university news release; see for details Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington: family medical leave and sick leave; medical benefits Source: DP list Northwestern University, Evanston: health insurance Southern Illinois University: employee ID cards, sick/bereavement leave, and recreational sports access (same fee structure as for spouse); health insurance reimbursement [source: SIUC campus HR office] Source: campus benefits publications University of Chicago: health insurance

9 Page 9 of 12 University of Illinois System: Chicago, Springfield, Urbana-Champaign: see Big Ten universities page. Western Illinois University: some limited soft campus benefits Indiana Iowa Purdue University: health insurance starting in 2003 Source: campus web site Indiana University: health insurance Source: campus web site Grinnell College: health insurance Source: phone call to college HR department Iowa State University: health insurance, however employee must pay for significant portion of premium, unlike a spouse Sources: Chronicle of Higher Education, 2/12/1999 Employee Benefits - P&S, Faculty and Supervisory Merit University of Iowa: health insurance and other benefits; Human Rights Policy prohibits discrimination based on sexual identity and gender identity; see Big Ten universities page. University of Northern Iowa: was going to consider at one time? Michigan See list maintained by the Triangle Foundation, of Michigan employers, at: University of Michigan: health insurance Source: UM LGB Resources - UM LGB Programs Office ; see Big Ten universities page. Wayne State University: health insurance Michigan State University: health insurance; see Big Ten universities page. Minnesota See list maintained by the Workplace Alliance and OutFront Minnesota, of Minnesota employers, at: Other Domestic Partnership Resources

10 Page 10 of 12 Action Wisconsin Wisconsin's LGBT civil rights organization has publications on Domestic Partner Benefits for Employers in Wisconsin. Human Rights Campaign Under "WorkNet", includes information and searchable database on non-discrimination policies, DP benefits at private employers and public employers and colleges/universities, GLBT employee groups National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Under "Publications," see DP Organizing Manual National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Directory of News Media Companies/Unions with DP Benefits The Workplace Alliance list of Minnesota Employers with DP Benefits Partners Task Force for G&L Couples - Steve Bryant and Demian A national resource for same-sex couples, supporting the diverse community of committed gay and lesbian partners through a variety of media. More than 150 essays, surveys and legal articles (including legal marriage). List of 650 Domestic Partner Benefits Providers. Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (LLDEF) Has good section under "Issues", "Domestic Partnership" Third Annual Conference on Domestic Partner Benefits - Chicago, Illinois: CANCELLED, unfortunately, due to low registration Collected D P Info - Scott Safier Variety of news items, reports through Companies, Municipalities, and Universities with DP Benefits - Duane T. Williams Comprehensive list, with specifics of benefits offered by employers, as reported to the compiler. PROGRESS Organization dedicated to making the American workplace safe and equitable for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Has DP benefits list (does not give specifics). QRD: Business, Legal + Workplace QRD: DP Benefits Variety of news items, company benefits announcements; some links to lists Discrimination in Employment and Other Areas Wisconsin is one of approximately a dozen states which bans discrimination in employment and other areas on the basis of sexual orientation. In the Midwest, only Wisconsin and Minnesota have nondiscrimination laws (Minnesota's includes gender identity). In other states, depending on what local ordinances may apply, and what policies your employer has adopted, you may be fired simply for being gay (or straight). State of Wisconsin

11 Page 11 of 12 What if you are discriminated against in Wisconsin in employment, housing, or public accomodation on the basis of your sexual orientation or other categories that are protected under state statute? You would contact the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Equal Rights Division, at (Madison) or (Milwaukee). (TDD/Hearing Impaired: or ) Note: complaints must be filed within 300 days of the alleged discrimination. This information is excerpted from: State of Wisconsin Equal Rights and Labor Standards - Department of Workforce Development (DWD; formerly Division of Labor and Human Relations, or DILHR) Contains: Overview of the Laws Enforced by the Equal Rights Division; 1996 Equal Rights Decision Digest -- posted 11/27/96; Civil Rights Issues (including info on workplace discrimination poster). To review state statutes and administrative code, visit the State Legislature's document system at City of Madison If a claim is made agains housing, a business, or an individual located in Madison, city ordinances banning discrimination may also be relevant. The Madison Equal Opportunities Commission is the primary city agency responsible for researching discrimination complaints; they can be contacted at (TDD/hearing impaired: ). The City of Madison also bans discrimination on the basis of gender identity in both public and private employment. Equal Opportunities Commission - City of Madison City of Milwaukee The City of Milwaukee's Equal Rights Commission is charged to receive, investigate and eliminate or remedy, discrimination in housing and employment, by means of conciliation, persuasion, education and litigation. Their web site; if it doesn't work, try and search on "equal rights commission": Equal Rights Commission - City of Milwaukee [Return to Dan's Home Page] This page has been loaded times since May 6, 1996, 50,000 of which were up to and including part of September 6, 2004 Contents of this page are copyright 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 by Dan Ross, dross AT execpc. com,

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