Rochester, N.Y. - The University of Rochester announced plans to extend benefits to all domestic partners of its employees.
The change will cover opposite-sex and same-sex couples on July 1.
"This approach to our benefits policy reflects our University's fundamental commitment to diversity and to fairness for all of our employees regardless of sexual orientation," University President Joel Seligman said in a statement. "We made this decision because it is consistent with our core convictions. We believe that this is the right thing to do."
The policy is a change of heart. In August, the University of Rochester announced same-sex couples would have to be married to receive their spouse's benefits, after New York began allowing same-sex couples to marry. During the August announcement, a spokesperson said the policy change would remain under review. The change announced in August was set to take place in July 2012. It will not take effect under the policy revision announced Wednesday.
All faculty, staff, and retirees will receive details about the new policy in the coming weeks.
"I've talked to a couple of people who are in domestic partnerships currently and they think it's a fantastic move on the U of R's part," said Chris Foote with the Pride Alliance at the U of R. "They feel it was nice to not have to feel pressure to get married when they either couldn't afford to or weren't ready to."
13WHAM asked several of the region's other major employers what their policies were on domestic partnership benefits.
Wegmans, Kodak, and Rochester General Hospital all said they provide domestic partnership benefits to employees.
