Opinions Please?

Question

So many of you know I have started a new job recently. As always, I give my partners information and my daughters, as dependents for insurance purposes.

I was told by the HR Department that they would need a copy of the actual Civil Union Certificate before they would add my partner onto my benefits. While that technically was not a problem, I'm wondering do they ask every married person to bring in their marriage certificate before they render benefits.

The HR person was really nice about it and apologetic, but it still makes me think. I may be reading too much into it, but I find it highly unlikely that married employees are being treated the same.

So, I guess my question is, how do you look at this situation? Do you see it as a big deal?

Dr. Philamina - Maybe you misunderstood. I was asking for opinions, I didn't say I was being discriminated against nor did I say (nor am I) filing a discrimination complaint. That would be quite farfetched.

Answer 1

I really wouldn't see it as a big deal, Dearest. Because Civil Unions are such a new thing, they're probably making certain to CYA and get all the paperwork in order. As long as they were apologetic about it and were kind, that's what matters. They didn't make a scene and demand things. No, married people aren't asked to bring in their certificates, but I wonder if Commonlaw people don't have to write or get a notification of legal custody of a child as well.
I woulldn't make a big deal of it. Good luck and be happy you have health insurance. I can't get on Truckinotter's.
Blessings to you and yours.

Answer 2

It is a common practice. The reason is that a marriage is publicly recorded and the records are available to anyone. Similarly, divorce records are as well.

This matters because, let's just say, if you were to commit fraud vis-a-vis the benefits available (however that might come about, even unintentionally at first, but not corrected once known), part of their legal position would be the public records showing not only that the marriage had ended, but that you could not have been unaware of the change (!) and that the fraud began at that point. This would make their claim for return of funds date to then and any criminal action they pursued would look worse to the jury.

By requiring you to produce a copy of the Civil Union Certificate, or sign something similar of their own making or choosing, they are bringing you to the same point they at which they already have anyone who is married.

Naturally, since no one checks ahead of time, an employee could pretend to be married and maintain the fiction, perhaps with stories for coworkers and keeping dating away from their knowledge or pretending misbehavior when caught, for years and years collecting benefits available only to partnered people. But again, proving fraud, once suspected, would be easy for them. They just want you in the same position of weakness should you turn out to be wicked and evil.

Additionally, some benefits involve third parties who require this and they either did not try or could not negotiate it out.

My opinion is that it is certainly fair since it actually brings one to a level par with the marrieds and it is certainly not hard to do nor is it demeaning in any manner. Especially with your department's considerate approach. So I don't think it should bother you any at all.

Answer 3

I work in HR, and yes we do require a marriage certificate for straight married couples. This is especially true if the marriage happens at a later date. It sounds odd, but that is the way it works. What gets me is that we require death certificates, and divorce paperwork as well. The only documentation we do not require is a birth certificat of a child as a dependant from the beginning of coverage, but we do if the child is added later. Insurance companies are very strict, and it is probably not even the company policy, but rather that of the insurance provider. So, it is not a big deal, and even married couples have to produce this paperwork. Although, if you have doubts, ask a married coworker if they had to do the same for their benefits. If not, then I would take issue with it.

Answer 4

I think this is standard practice all the way around. On my job, it states directly beneath the line of questioning who your benefits and insurance purposes are going to, u have to show proof of civil union AND/OR marriage. There have been circumstances of people falsifying civil unions, etc...so i guess they're just being fool-proof.

Don't stress too hard about it. Think about it like this....if u were a hiring supervisor and u had new employees seeking to claim dependenst or spouse/partner in order to be covered under insurance policies and that money was coming out of YOUR companies pocket...girl u would be checkin too! lol.

Answer 5

You would be perfectly within your rights to ask HR if they require marriage certificates to cover married couples, and point out the disparity.

However, they could easily say that marriages are part of the public record, and easy to verify, and confer legal status recognized for insurance, etc.

In my state (CA), we just had to sign a form that basically said, "If marriage were legal, we would be married" and that we are in a primary relationship. Oh - and CA has "domestic parters" legislation. So maybe we just work for more forgiving companies.

In short, they aren't going to insure you until you provide the document, so it's rather a moot point. But if it were me, I would ask the question anyway. Who knows, you may change things, or at least open some minds.

Good luck in the new job! I hope it's fan-TAB-ulous!!

Answer 6

No they do not ask every married person to bring in their marriage certificate. I to have went through the same thing you are going through. I have a marriage certificate from Canada which I was very proud to show them. I didn't take offense because it was getting me something that my spouse needed.

But after the fact yes I was a little upset by the fact that it doesn't happen to everyone who's employed with the company. However I've gotten over that and am thankful that they cover my spouse as a lot of companies in our area do not permit this.

Answer 7

I would think that it is not so much the HR Department that requires that, but the insurance company of the company you are working for. Yes, I think that they would ask for a marriage certificate sometimes as well.

Answer 8

Our HR office asks for a marriage certificate and birth certificate for any of those type of changes. They simply cannot take anyones word on anything. This person asking for the copy is only doing her job and it means nothing.

Answer 9

Yes, when you are married and want to add your spouse to your insurance you are required to bring in your marriage license. I'm telling you this from personal experience, that's what my husband had to do when we got married, and when we got divorced I had to bring in my divorce decree to prove I was divorced so that I could start my own insurance.
If they asked you to do that, you better believe they asked everyone else too, it's standard practice with some insurance companies. It's not a big deal.

Answer 10

Interesting....i would be a little pissy too...I would have asked if other married couples needed it too...but, i wonder if it for the sake of the health Ins. Working in that field for over 10 years it is required to have proof for domestic partner ship. I had to show bank statements, our mortgage deed and an electric bill. Wild i know!