April 29, 2004 6:22 AM

Gay marriage affects domestic-partner benefits
Posted by Jason Butlerat 6:22 AM

Massachusetts' gay marriage rules are causing some of the largest private employers in the area to rethink their domestic-partner benefits.

Many large Massachusetts employers began offering domestic-partner benefits to be fair to, and attract, gay employees. But once they can get married, the discrimination rationale disappears.

Robert Webb, a partner with the Boston law firm of Nutter, McClennen & Fish who advises companies on benefits, predicted that gay marriage may be "the death knell for domestic-partner benefits."