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Friday, December 8, 2000
America West institutes a gender-neutral domestic partner benefits plan
A story released yesterday over PRNewswire reports that
America West Holdings Corporation (NYSE: AWA) will offer a comprehensive benefits program
to employees in defined committed relationships. Effective Jan. 1, 2001, active employees
may elect coverage for eligible partners including medical, dental, leave privileges and
travel privileges.
"We recognize that the success of our families is critical to the success of our
company and we are committed to designing benefits programs to meet our employees'
specific and unique family needs," said William A. Franke, chairman, president and
chief executive officer. "Many of our single employees participate in committed
relationships. This new program underscores the company's commitment to provide
leading-edge benefits that are important and valuable to our employees."
The committed partners program extends specific benefits to partnerships that evidence a
commitment through economic interdependence and time. Committed partners of same or
opposite sex are entitled to enroll in the benefits program. Certain eligibility
requirements must be met such as the partner residing with the employee and the partner
and the employee being jointly responsible for financial obligations.
The benefits plan is similar to one recently instituted by
Southwest Airlines which is also open to same and opposite sex domestic partners.
Other major carriers with domestic partner programs limit the benefits to partners of gay
and lesbian employees, requiring opposite-sex domestic partners to marry in order to
receive equal benefits.
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