In: Operations Management
Why do you think that HP offers domestic partner benefits to opposite-sex partners as well as to same-sex partners?
In an attempt to bring equality in the workplace and provide a level-playing field to its employees, HP offers domestic partner benefits to opposite-sex partners as well as to same-sex partners. One of the biggest reason for incorporating such organizational practice is to establish that the company is non-discriminatory in its approach. It does not discriminate between the employees on the basis of their personal life choices and values each and every employee equally. All employees must have equal access to the benefits offered by the organization and should enjoy the same fundamental rights.
In addition, employing such non-discriminating policies acts as a major force in acquiring and retaining employees. Today, majority of the organizations are making huge investments on building and developing their human capital and inspite of this, attrition and employee turnover remains a major human resource problem. Having policies like domestic partner benefits to opposite-sex partners as well as to same-sex partners, communicates to the employees the care and respect that their employer have for their personal life decisions. It helps in retaining the talented and loyal pool of employees.
In short, having such non-discriminatory practices in the workplace improves an employee's loyalty towards its employer, making him or her stay for a longer period of time with the organization. More and more companies should follow the footsteps of HP and should employ and promote similar non-discriminatory employee and human resource policies within the organization.