Home Depot: Pets Yes, Gays No

[freetobegay]

Washington) Home Depot, Sprint, Ecolab and Waste Management - all Fortune 500 companies are under fire for decisions to offer pet insurance as a company benefit but not domestic partner insurance to its gay and lesbian workers.

All four include gays and lesbians in their nondiscrimination policies but have declined to include gender identity.

"Paying for a parrot's but not a person's hospital stay is absurd," said Human Rights Campaign President Cheryl Jacques.

Home Depot is based in Atlanta; Sprint is based in Overland Park, Kan.; Waste Management is based in Houston, Texas; and Ecolab is in St. Paul, Minn.

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/09/090104hdbens.htm

[Political_Junkie]

1. I'm speechless,

...

[Political_Junkie]

2. Alright, got my tongue back.

It's not enough that they have to treat us like dogs, but now they have to make sure we know that we are less important than animals! They are downright uncivilized!

[MadProphetMargin]

3. What did you expect? Like calls to like...of course animals prefer

other animals, over people.

Welcome to the post-American century.

[Political_Junkie]

4. Good point,

welcome, indeed.

[demnan]

5. How bizarre!

I love my pets but if I were a gay employee there I would be furious enough to go work for Lowes.

As it is, I don't shop at Home Depot anymore. Their stuff is not as good as Lowes and it's more expensive.

[xchrom]

6. quelle surprise!!!

not.
i'd be outraged -- but i'm too old for that. sigh.

[soothsayer]

7. So THAT's why pubs always say people would want to marry their dogs

if gay marriage were allowed----they're right, cuz the dogs would get insurance!

[Zell in Hell]

8. Fuck...

They're opening one soon in my town.

Hopefully Home Depot Canada's less bigoted than its American counterpart. (It's possible. Our Wal-Marts are less bad to workers than yours.)

[newyawker99]

10. Hi Zell in Hell!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[strategery blunder]

44. Hi, Zell in Hell

I like your username.:)

Edit: Do the Wal-marts in Canada treat their workers better because of a stricter regulatory environment, or for other reasons?

[Catfight]

9. I like LOWES.

[Cheswick2.0]

11. but it is the company's policy, what's the problem?

Why don't these people get a job somewhere else? Home Depot has it's policy and certainly they should be allowed to enforce them? It's a private business isn't it?

Or are you saying there is some greater truth here? Something that trumps banal "policy"?

[skygazer]

12. Or take a Prozac

Right? Isn't that what a Republican spokesperson suggested for those who are unhappy at their jobs? Get another job. Or take a Prozac.

As if there are tons of jobs just waiting for people to leap into them! Unfair is unfair and if something is unfair the right thing to do is to fight it. If they offered insurance to men but not to women, would that be okay because it's company policy? If they offered it to white employees but not to black, would that be okay because it's company policy? This is discrimination, plain and simple. And THAT trumps policy.

[nickinSTL]

15. Why don't these people get a job somewhere else?

Uh, have you noticed the economy?

That may not be a realistic option.

Just speaking based on my observations.

[jmowreader]

46. A lot of us like it there

It pays well--exceptionally well for retail.

We have excellent benefits.

We take care of our people very well. Right now we're running an Emergency Operations Center in preparation for the hurricane. Any associate who needs help because of the storm can get it by calling a toll-free number.

And the job can be challenging.

Home Depot opened its first store in Atlanta 25 years ago. Some of the people who helped open that store are still with Home Depot.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Liberal Veteran]

19. Would you say the same thing if HD said no spouses or kids, but pets ok?

Sorry, but fucked up is fucked up.

[Cheswick2.0]

21. psssssssttttt

I think you missed the point. On another thread the poster claims that busineses have a right to whatever asinine policy they want and people should follow the rules.
I am pointing out the poster's conflicting views.
My point is that if there are principles more important than policy, then democracy (passing out voter registration forms) is as important as the rights of non married individuals to have their SO's covered by insurance.
Either we think arbitrary rules set by businesses are okay or we don't. Sometimes there are more important considerations than simple policy, are there not?

[Misunderestimator]

23. Now I understand all the perpetuating threads... and I understand how...

you meant what you said as an indictment instead of as your own beliefs in "getting another job" etc... Otherwise, I was a little confused since I didn't understand the context, and from your posts I can tell that you wouldn't say those things seriously. fwiw, looks like some have taken it as a literal comment from you.

[Cheswick2.0]

24. Yes I can see that some people took it literally

however freetobegay has no excuse. He knew what I meant.
Sorry if I confused anyone else.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cheswick2.0]

28. I saw that

Thanks Ripley! I called him on it too and the post was pulled and the thread locked.

[truthspeaker]

22. They have a right to make policies, and we have a right to criticize them.

Sure, those workers can try to find work elsewhere. And we can choose to shop elsewhere.

[Cheswick2.0]

25. "no shit sherlock"

please forgive me and I do not mean to be rude, however I am pretty sure that my last question calling policy such policy "banal" gave away my real point.

[cheezus]

13. well, pets are a lot cheaper

but yeah, what a bunch of assholes

[otohara]

14. Do They Still Have Those Big Ass Stickers

on the cash registers that say "We support our troops and our Government"?

When I saw those, I stopped shopping there - then there's the big bucks to GWB and that phony photo op at HD w/ GWB - Yick

[jmowreader]

38. We haven't ever had those on our registers

We get millions in business from Fort Bragg every year, so if anyone had them on their registers, it would be my store.

[otohara]

40. In Denver They Were

Large stickers on the tops of the check out counters - I don't know if they are still there, since I refuse to go back.

[shimmergal]

16. I love my dogs but . . .

quite apart from the inequity here, I think pet insurance should be discouraged. Except for coverage of catastrophic medical costs.

Why? Once a certain "tipping point' is reached in the no. of pet owners who have insurance, vet. fees and associated costs will soar. There's a reason why the same procedure performed on a dog costs only 1/10 or less of what it costs for a human patient. The main reason is: if the costs were equal, the veterinary profession would be out of business.

[SoCalDem]

18. That is true..and we all must just face facts..

Depending on the breeds,there are inherent risks.. some breeds are prone to hip dysplasia and some to ear problem, and others to eye problems..

and the biggest thing is that most pets do not require much veterinary service until they get old, and they just do not live all that long.:cry:..

a 12 yr old large breed dog can amass HUGE vet bills..and sometimes the superhuman attempts are more for the "parent" than the pet..

I went through this myself with our precious "Miss Kitty".. She had breast cancer, and we grabbed every straw.. chemo, surgery twice, sub-cu hydration, draining fluid from the pericardium (she developed congestive heart problems too).. and we only did this because she was still active, eating, playing (probably to humor US:cry:).. several thousand dollars later, we finally just said.. no more.. she was 13.. she died peacefully in my husband's lap..

From diagnosis to death , she had an additional 14 months.. I swore I would never do that again, and have not.. Not because we are heartless or cannot afford it..but just because I have come to realize, that at a certain point, you just have to accept what's happening, and go from there..I still miss her, and cry when I see her ppicture, but I could not save her..no matter how much money or care..:( She was just not destined to be one of those 20 yr old cats we read about ..

[despairing optimist]

27. I'm so sorry. I went through something similar

with my cat, Hope. She was diagnosed with chronic renal failure in March of '99, and that began seven months of blood tests, medications, food changes, intravenous lymph infusions, and x-rays. It bought her some time, but finally she couldn't eat or reach the litter box, though she tried valiantly. She was suffering, and the last thing I could do for her was to end that. All that money could buy her was more suffering; it couldn't give her back her youth.

She lived for 17-1/2 years, long by cat standards. I found her as a kitten in the hallway of my apartment building when I came home from work and took her in. No one ever posted a missing-cat notice, and I don't know how she got there.

So there are two things one can do in such a case: end your loved one's suffering and adopt another homeless pet or more if you can manage it. It's the best tribute to the one who passes. Forget the pet insurance, which only inflates medical bills and makes you shell out money in advance that you'd eventually end up paying anyway. There are lots of animals in shelters who need homes and love.

[SoCalDem]

29. Before HMO's ..ordinary people could afford medical care

I used to take all three of my boys to the pediatrician and could just write a check..We had 80/20 insurance with a $1500 family deductible.. Once a month we photocopied and mailed receipts to the ins co.. at the end of they year, (usually Nov which worked out great for Xmas) they would mail us a check for the 80% over the deductible)..this included prescriptions AND OTC medicines & vitamins..
Hospital or ER , they paid upfront, and billed us for our 20%..

HMO's CREATED the mess we are in now..

I would not buy a pet policy..even though I love my kitties.. when they are sick I take them, and pay for it..

When Sammy hurt himself jumping off the cat tower, I took him to the ER Vet and that cost me about $300, and then had to take him to MY vet the next AM.. they took more xrays and ended up having to board him for a few days.. before it was all said and done it cost us about $500, but even if we HAD pet insurance, you can bet that there would be "exclusions".. Ever have an "extended warranty" ona car?? :grr:..it never fails.. whatever is broken on your car..seems to be the ONE thing that ISN'T covered..

[despairing optimist]

41. Absolutely right. I remember the family doctor making house calls

and my parents paying in cash in the 60s. "Major medical," as the early fee-for-service plans were known, was originally a fringe benefit for executives that trickled down to the secretarial pool during the 50s and 60s. Companies were quite proud during job interviews to talk about major medical as a benefit, and that's where the monster grew. Our health should not be subject to the beneficence of an employer, however generous or well-intentioned that employer may consider itself. If we're not healthy, we can't work or find a job. But insurance companies have made enormous profits selling health insurance even with today's inflated prices. As long as they influence our politicians, we'll never get the health coverage we deserve, and by we I mean everyone, employed or not. The line about private insurance being more efficient than government plans like Medicare is nonsense to anyone who's had to jump through hoops to please both.

[WLKjr]

20. Well isn't that precious

This is the most retarded thing I have heard this morning except for hearing "don't be an economic girlie man" by arnold.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Occulus]

31. translation: "we don't hire black/asian/jewish people"

Explain to us all how that should be a right.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[yellowcanine]

32. Great. If your lover is a dog you are home free. Makes sense to me.

[jayctravis]

33. what if the pet is gay? (n/t)

[stavka]

35. Same Question?

I have serious doubts about my cats.....

[yankeedem]

36. We need some perspective here....

where I work, like most companies, doesn't give pet insurance OR domestic partner.

HD and Lowe's don't get my business, they can shove their Chinese crap and rain forest wood. I'm lucky enough to live where HD hasn't run all the local hardware stores out of business.

[jmowreader]

39. Let's hear about this rainforest wood shit

Tell ya what.

My store is at 2060 Skibo Road, Fayetteville, NC. I'm the guy in the orange apron with the toolbelt. Come find me in the lumber department and show me the rainforest wood. It is not there.

I can tell you where every stick of wood in my building comes from, and none of it is sourced from the rainforest. We used to get it, but no longer--it's been about five years since HD bought rainforest wood or old growth timber.

I can go to Lowe's and find it. Lauan is a rainforest mahogany, and that's what they have. The mahogany we've got is a dryland species--it won't grow in the rainforest.

[Djinn]

42. Don't know if this applies to HD specifically

but I know plenty of Australian old growth timber is logged while the government insists it isn't old growth. If we dodgy about with the meaning of old growth then I'd guess that Malaysia, Indonesia and other developing countries also do it.

[jmowreader]

45. It's easy to tell old growth in anything but poplar

All one needs do is look at the growth rings. The trees that were here before the forest industry figured out how to force-grow a tree have exceptionally dense growth ring patterns, because they don't grow very fast. Current-growth trees have super-wide rings.

The old-growth problem in Malaysia and Indonesia is almost purely socioeconomic. A LOT of wood that comes from those two places was poached--stolen from the forest by subsistence loggers and sold under the table. When the poverty line is three feet above your head, ecology isn't your overriding concern, and big trees bring more money than little ones do.

The most-poached wood used to be teak, but the teak plantations really got their shit together on access control and now it's not too bad. Spanish cedar was poached kinda heavily during the cigar boom because that's what humidors are lined with, but fine cigars aren't as popular as they used to be so that market has stabilized. (Spanish cedar was $10/board foot during the cigar boom; it's back down to $5/bf where it should be.) I believe we're back to Genuine Mahogany being the most-poached wood. It comes and goes.

Some woods that won't ever be heavily poached include purpleheart and ipe. Reason: they are so hard you have to predrill nail holes.

I said it wasn't easy to tell old growth in poplar. Well...let's just say you won't see old-growth poplar because it makes no sense to harvest it. Poplar trees get big enough to saw into lumber in ten years, so everyone plants for harvestability and stays out of the wild stands. It and bamboo are the most environmentally-friendly stands because they grow so fast.

[jmowreader]

37. Umm...I happen to have a Home Depot benefits handbook

Eligibility for just about any of our benefits (the ones that aren't restricted to associates only, like tuition reimbursement--there aren't many of these) reads "domestic partners."

[walldude]

43. So you are saying the story is a lie?

[jmowreader]

47. Well, as far as we're concerned it is