Google plans to pay gay employees more

Google is set to begin covering a cost that gay and lesbian employees must pay when their partners receive domestic partner health benefits, according to a report in the New York Times.

The increased pay is largely to compensate these workers for an extra tax that heterosexual married couples do not pay. The increase will be retroactive to the beginning of the year, the newspaper said.

Google is not the first large company to make up for the extra tax, the Times reported, adding that Google’s move could inspire its Silicon Valley competitors to follow suit, as they compete for the same talent.

Right now Google offers benefits to the spouses or partners of both straight and gay employees.

Under federal law, employer-provided health benefits for domestic partners are counted as taxable income, if the partner is not considered a dependent, the newspaper said, noting that the tax owed is based on the value of the partner’s coverage paid by the employer.

Citing a study, the Times said employees with domestic partners will pay about $1,069 more a year in taxes than a married employee with the same coverage. Google will essentially cover those costs, the newspaper said, putting same-sex couples on an even footing with heterosexual employees whose spouses and families receive health benefits.

Source

Well this is interesting.

I think it's a great thing for Google to be ponying up money to cover the costs that same sex couples must pay, that heteroes to do.

Thoughts ATS?

~Keeper

yep....that sounds just about right,,,,in FREAKIN CALIDAMNFORNIA...he he sorry about the Calidamnfornia bit there

I wonder what the gay community would say if Microsoft declare that they will pay higher salaries to heterosexuals than the homos......

[edit on 4-7-2010 by St-Patrick]

Would Google do it if it where the other way around and hetro's had to pay more? Dont think so.

reply to post by St-Patrick


They aren't really paying them more, they are paying them to compensate for the taxes they must pay that heteroes do not.

~Keeper

Originally posted by Master Shen long
Would Google do it if it where the other way around and hetro's had to pay more? Dont think so.

Hell yes they would.

They would be forced to.

Heteroes would be screaming at the top of their lungs about discrimination and equal rights.

Kind of ironic isn't it?

~Keeper

blame the gov....

not google, who is trying to do the right thing......

if a company wants the best people...they will pay for them.

Originally posted by tothetenthpower
reply to post by St-Patrick

 

They aren't really paying them more, they are paying them to compensate for the taxes they must pay that heteroes do not.

~Keeper

OMG the homos battle to have the same right as the heteros..... Please Jesus maometh and Buddha please help us.....

Originally posted by tothetenthpower

Originally posted by Master Shen long
Would Google do it if it where the other way around and hetro's had to pay more? Dont think so.

Hell yes they would.

They would be forced to.

Heteroes would be screaming at the top of their lungs about discrimination and equal rights.

Kind of ironic isn't it?

~Keeper

No they wouldnt.... It is only Gays and blacks who scream for equal rights. Hetro's would just carry on supping their idiot juice while watching the hypnobox.

Originally posted by St-Patrick

Originally posted by tothetenthpower
reply to post by St-Patrick

 

They aren't really paying them more, they are paying them to compensate for the taxes they must pay that heteroes do not.

~Keeper

OMG the homos battle to have the same right as the heteros..... Please Jesus maometh and Buddha please help us.....

I don't really see what the problem is here?

Why is it bad that gay people want equal treatment?

~Keeper

Originally posted by tothetenthpower

The increased pay is largely to compensate these workers for an extra tax that heterosexual married couples do not pay. The increase will be retroactive to the beginning of the year, the newspaper said.

Citing a study, the Times said employees with domestic partners will pay about $1,069 more a year in taxes than a married employee with the same coverage. Google will essentially cover those costs, the newspaper said, putting same-sex couples on an even footing with heterosexual employees whose spouses and families receive health benefits.

I'm confused...

What about heterosexuals who are not married to their partners?

Did I misunderstand, or is this only for gay couples and not
unmarried heterosexual couples?

Not everyone believes in government approved marriage.



[edit on 4-7-2010 by illusions]

No they wouldnt.... It is only Gays and blacks who scream for equal rights. Hetro's would just carry on supping their idiot juice while watching the hypnobox.

So that makes them the bigger patriots than straight folk then eh?



~Keeper

[edit on 7/4/2010 by tothetenthpower]

Originally posted by illusions

Originally posted by tothetenthpower

The increased pay is largely to compensate these workers for an extra tax that heterosexual married couples do not pay. The increase will be retroactive to the beginning of the year, the newspaper said.

Citing a study, the Times said employees with domestic partners will pay about $1,069 more a year in taxes than a married employee with the same coverage. Google will essentially cover those costs, the newspaper said, putting same-sex couples on an even footing with heterosexual employees whose spouses and families receive health benefits.

Source

Thoughts ATS?

~Keeper

I'm confused...

What about heterosexuals who are not married to their partners?

Did I misunderstand, or is this only for gay couples and not
unmarried heterosexual couples?

Not everyone believes in government approved marriage.

[edit on 4-7-2010 by illusions]

And what about single moms who can't barely make it to then end of month ?

reply to post by St-Patrick


that single mom would likely have full benefits.. for her children.

that single mom's boyfriend better make the commitment and marry her.

the gay dude...would like to marry some guy but CAN'T..therefore google is making up for our government's fear and cowardice on allowing gay people to marry.

reply to post by wrathchild


I respectfully disagree.

I do not believe that all gay couples want to get married,

likewise, not all heterosexual couples want to get married.

Originally posted by illusions
reply to post by wrathchild

 

I respectfully disagree.

I do not believe that all gay couples want to get married,

likewise, not all heterosexual couples want to get married.

Agreed.

But most want the same rights under the law. Same goes with pay and benefits.

~Keeper

Originally posted by tothetenthpower

No they wouldnt.... It is only Gays and blacks who scream for equal rights. Hetro's would just carry on supping their idiot juice while watching the hypnobox.

So that makes them the bigger patriots than straight folk then eh?

~Keeper

[edit on 7/4/2010 by tothetenthpower]

lol

2nd line

Mod Note: One Line Post – Please Review This Link.


[edit on 5-7-2010 by Gemwolf]

marriage is a scary and binding commitment to somebody...earning them them a financial respect of the government.

it's not easy being married..a legal commitment to somebody.

its easy having some chick living with you...maybe next month you could have some different woman living with you.....

what organization is willing to deal with that??????

that's why a marriage...gay or straight should be recognized...then a financial commitment by a corporation or the government can be given.

both parties would be accountable.

[edit on 5-7-2010 by wrathchild]

Originally posted by Master Shen long

Originally posted by tothetenthpower

Originally posted by Master Shen long
Would Google do it if it where the other way around and hetro's had to pay more? Dont think so.

Hell yes they would.

They would be forced to.

Heteroes would be screaming at the top of their lungs about discrimination and equal rights.

Kind of ironic isn't it?

~Keeper

No they wouldnt.... It is only Gays and blacks who scream for equal rights. Hetro's would just carry on supping their idiot juice while watching the hypnobox.

Um, please don't tell me you fail to realize that "gays and blacks" scream for equal rights BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THEM.

If it annoys you when people who are deprived of rights complain about it, help them get equal rights. #1 - they stop complaining, #2 - you've done the right thing

Originally posted by illusions
What about heterosexuals who are not married to their partners?

Did I misunderstand, or is this only for gay couples and not
unmarried heterosexual couples?

Not everyone believes in government approved marriage.
[edit on 4-7-2010 by illusions]

Interesting point. Straight couples at least have the option of marriage where as gay couples don't though.



What about common law marriage? I'm not American so I don't know how it works down there. Do people who have issues with government recognized marriage also have a problem with common law marriage? I live in Canada and while the exact rules I believe differ from province to province but the feds will recognize people as being common law (gay or straight) if you have lived together for a year or adopted or gave birth to a child together.

[edit on 5-7-2010 by spacetowel]