Singles-Friendly
Workplaces
 

Despite these large numbers, unmarried workers are often treated unfairly by public employers, private companies, and even unions.

Disgruntled workers often have no legal recourse since, like most states, federal law does not prohibit marital status discrimination in employment. Grievance procedures are often of little use to unionized workers since many bargaining agreements are silent on this issue.

Is there a conspiracy against unmarried workers by employers, unions, and government officials? Not really.

It’s just that unmarried employees have been overlooked when economic pie is being sliced in corporate board rooms or at collective bargaining tables. It is easy to overlook people who are not politically organized.

But times are changing. And unmarried Americans are beginning to speak up.

Single mothers and gay couples have probably complained the loudest, and as a result, new programs have been instituted to meet their needs. Child care, flex-time, and domestic partner benefits are examples.

The rallying cry has been "equal pay for equal work" and "respect for diversity." But these principles are not being applied across the board so that all workers are treated equally regardless of their marital or family status.

Domestic partnership benefits programs should apply to same and opposite sex couples who meet eligibility criteria. A single worker caring for a blood relative should be able to designate that person as a benefits beneficiary.

But the workers who are really being short changed are the "solo singles" who do not have a spouse, domestic partner, or dependent children. Their reduced benefits package is, in effect, forcing them to subsidize the benefits of married couples and parents with children.  Another segment of the workforce which is not being treated equally, especially in terms of benefits compensation, is that of unmarried workers who have an adult child living with them.

Because these issues are of great concern to unmarried workers, we have created a Singles-Friendly Workplace section of our online Library of Unmarried America.

Our research has shown that unmarried employees generally make less money than married workers, have a higher unemployment rate, and receive less benefits compensation too.  Tell us if we have overlooked any problems single workers experience. We are willing to incorporate other issues into this section of the website.