Well it appears as though you can take your iPhone out of the trash. Wait a second, you mean you hadn’t already thrown it away?
Walt Sharp, a spokesman for AT&T, just confirmed in an e-mail to Dallas Voice that the company will grant family medical leave to gay employee Brian Dickenson so Dickenson can care for his partner, Bill Sugg, who recently suffered a stroke. Here’s Sharp’s statement:
“AT&T regrets that there has been confusion over the administration of family leave with respect to registered domestic partners. We have taken steps to ensure that benefits like FMLA are extended to employees with registered domestic partners for the purpose of caring for the partner, regardless of the state in which the employee resides. AT&T has a long history of inclusiveness and we embrace and celebrate diversity of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation in our workforce.”
I also spoke with Rob Wiley, the attorney who represents Dickenson and Sugg. Wiley said it’s “fantastic” if AT&T has changed its mind, but added that neither he nor his client had been contacted by the company yet. Wiley said he’ll call off a protest planned outside a Dallas AT&T store tomorrow if and when the company contacts him.
“In mind it doesn’t really count until I get something in writing,” Wiley said. “My quote is, ‘That sounds very positive, but I haven’t heard anything from the company.’ This is kind of the problem we’ve had all along. AT&T says one thing to HRC and another thing to the employee, so I kind of have to hear it from them.”
Smart move AT&T because this issue is getting ready to go viral on the net.
So now AT&T wants a pat on the back for treating a gay human being like an ACTUAL human being???
I say AT&T can go sh*t in their hat.
I posted this in the previous thread but it might be more apt here. Are Mr. Suggs and Mr. Dickenson registered as DP’s? What does that mean to AT&T — legal registration with a state or county? (that’s not possible in the Dallas area) Registration with AT&T HR? (does everyone have easy access to the forms for that, and can they be filed without coming out to one’s supervisor and unit?) It may not be inconsistent for them to have the policy the statement says they have and continue to treat this one family horribly.
@a.: My understanding is they are in the process of obtaining a domestic partnership from the city of Seattle. There are a number of places that grant domestic partnerships regardless of where the couple resides.
LEAGUE at AT&T (Employee Resource Group for LGBT employees) has long posted on its employee site how to become legally registered domestic partners either in person (in areas that allow for it) or by mail. The site also gives deatils on how to submit that to AT&T. My partner and I have done so by mail with the City of West Hollywood and have been recognized by AT&T for many years. My partner enjoys the benefits that are also provided to straight spouses.
Excerpt from LEAGUE’s website:
Registering your Partnership through the Mail
If you prefer to register by mail, LEAGUE is also aware of two communities that allow a registration to be filed through the mail (there may be more!). The City of West Hollywood and Seattle both charge approx. $25 for registration. In general, this procedure requires the following steps:
· Download a registration form from the city’s website,
· Fill out the form (except the signatures),
· Sign the form in front of a notary and have it notarized,
· Send it, with a check to the city,
· Within a few weeks you will receive confirmation of your registration.
Here is the link for information (and form downloads) for the city of West Hollywood, CA:
https://www.weho.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=nav&navid=8
…and similar information for the city of Seattle, WA:
https://www.pan.ci.seattle.wa.us/seattle/leg/clerk/dpr.htm
I’m glad that they came to their senses.
Better late then never I suppose.
Thanks, John and J., for the answers to my question above. Hope the consequences of this will include more couples realizing that they need to register — before something tragic happens — in order to maximize institutional respect for their rights.
>>Bill Says:
I say AT&T can go sh*t in their hat.<< henceforth i shall steal this quote from you. i love it!
I’m very happy this is getting cleared up. I work for AT&T and have never had any negative experiences regarding my being gay. My partner is on my benefits and all of my bosses have always been super supportive. I did have to register with a city that offers registration (used West Hollywood, CA) but straight couples have to go through the same process as well. If they were not already registered, I can understand how this problem came up, but I’m glad that my employer is doing the right thing be extending FMLA anyway. Regarding whether or not it is easy to get registered., in my experience it was.I called my HR department, they explained the process, and we sent a $25 check to the city of West Hollywood.
Kenneth D,
You said that you used West Hollywood for your registration. Do you live there or are you able to simply register there without living there?