Same-Sex Partners Have Legal Right to Marry

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled same-sex partners have a constitutional right to marry.  Proposals to amend administrative rules regulating Federal leaves and benefits will follow soon. For New Jersey employers, as a practical matter, not much will change.  Policies that define "spouse"  should have one unified meaning, including family and bereavement leaves.  Employers may also need to decide how to handle requests for adding a spouse to a group health care plan. Most employers do not ask an employee to submit proof of an opposite-sex marriage. Employers should not confuse this ruling with so-called "common law" marriage, which is not legally recognized in New Jersey.