In a move that follows policies adopted by other multinationals such as Thomson Reuters Manila, IBM Philippines has decided to offer benefits, including health coverage, to the partners of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) employees. The same benefits are already enjoyed by non-LGBTQ employees.
“In a statement released on Tuesday, January 12, IBM said that the benefits inclusion covers those who have identified themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. They can now enroll their domestic partners as qualified dependents and beneficiaries for the same benefits entitled to an employee’s spouse,” reports Miguel R. Camus in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Specifically, IBP said the benefits “include health coverage, election as beneficiary for group life insurance, and ‘accompanied employee’ relocation entitlements.”
IBM Philippines has earned the distinction as the first IBM unit in the ASEAN region to provide LGBTQ domestic partner benefits.
