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The University of Rochester announced that effective July 1 it is extending benefit coverage to opposite-sex domestic partners, as it does for same-sex partners of its employees.
Opposite-sex partners had not been eligible for benefits, which include health care, retirement, tuition and a home ownership incentive program.
The university has 20,340 employees, making it the largest employer in the region. Approximately 85 same-sex couples had been recognized by the university as domestic partners. UR spokeswoman Sharon Dickman said it wasn’t known how many opposite-sex couples would apply for recognition. She said the university would not disclose how much the expanded benefits program would cost.
Seligman said that including opposite-sex domestic partners was “the right thing to do. … This approach to our benefit policy reflects our university’s fundamental commitment to diversity and to fairness for all of our employees regardless of sexual orientation.”
