AT&T Switches Gears on Sick Leave for Gay Employees

by Michael Jones · 2010-01-29 13:57:00 UTC
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AT&TCapping off the week with some good news, AT&T has issued a statement clarifying their position on offering family and medical leave to gay employees. In the wake of an incident in Texas, where a 12-year employee of the company was told that he could not take sick leave to care for his partner who suffered a debilitating stroke, the company has issued a statement apologizing for the controversy.

The employee in question, Bryan Dickenson, has been taking vacation time once a week so that he could visit his partner of 30 years, Bill Sugg, in a rehabilitation center, after Sugg suffered a stroke. As of this morning, AT&T had stood their ground in not offering Dickenson sick leave to be with his partner.

"There are circumstances under which our administration of our benefits plans must conform with state law, and this is one of those circumstances,” said AT&T spokesperson Walt Sharp.

But after pressure from activists and a drumbeat of negative coverage this afternoon, AT&T issued a statement rescinding Sharp's comments and apologizing for the flare up.

"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 [leave] is extended to employees with registered domestic partners for the purpose of caring for the partner, regardless of the state in which the employee resides," the company said. "AT&T has a long history of inclusiveness and we embrace and celebrate diversity of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation in our workforce."

Score a victory for activists who pushed AT&T on this issue. And score some peace for Bryan Dickenson, who can now, in theory, take the necessary time off to care for and be with his ill partner.

Photo credit: howstuffworks

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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