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Media contacts: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications, 248.260.8466, barbara@eafocus.com;
Wendy LoCicero, ASE, 248.223.8006, wlocicero@aseonline.org

Livonia, Mich. —June 29, 2015 —Employers in Michigan and around the country have already begun reviewing their benefit offerings and internal policies to ensure that none of them exclude same-sex marriage partners or divorced partners. So said Mary E. Corrado, president and CEO of the American Society of Employers (ASE), one of the nation’s oldest and largest employer associations. Corrado’s comments came following the Supreme Court’s ruling on June 26 that same-sex couples have the fundamental right to marry, and any same-sex marriage must be recognized in all states.

“There are multiple employer practices that will be impacted by the Supreme Court’s decision,” said Corrado. “Examples include leave policies under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), dependent coverage in health insurance plans and survivor benefits under employer retirement plans.”

Corrado says the decision may provide administrative relief to employers who do business in multiple states, encompassing those states that already recognized same-sex marriages and those that did not. Further, employers who currently offer domestic partner benefits to unmarried same-sex and/or opposite-sex partners of their employees may choose to no longer offer such benefits. According to a benefits survey released by ASE earlier this month, more than 10% of survey respondents offered domestic partner benefits only to same-sex unmarried partners.

In a survey distributed by ASE this morning and completed by 60 member organizations (48% in manufacturing), 47% of respondents said they had policies that needed to be updated as a result of Friday’s Supreme Court ruling. The policies were largely related to health plans, FMLA, life insurance and retirement plans.

“Many Michigan employers are going to be very busy over the next several months as they re-write and introduce new policies and practices that adhere to the new same-sex marriage law,” Corrado said. “At the same time, many other employers who have been watching the trajectory regarding the same-sex marriage debate in Michigan have been anticipating this ruling and are well positioned to make a smooth transition.”

About the American Society of Employers (ASE) – a Centennial Organization
The American Society of Employers (ASE) is a not-for-profit trade association providing people-management information and services to Michigan employers. Since 1902, member organizations have relied on ASE to be their single, cost-effective source for information and support, helping to grow their bottom line by enhancing the effectiveness of their people. Learn more about ASE at www.aseonline.org.

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