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Collas Crill's Carl Ashcroft and Emma Parr consider the
impact of Jersey's new Civil Partnerships law on island
employers. 6 January 2012 saw the Civil Partnership (Jersey) Law
2012 become law, enabling same sex "marriages" to be
formed in Jersey and for existing civil partnerships celebrated in
other jurisdictions to be recognised locally.
Collas Crill employment specialist Emma Parr is encouraging
employers to review their policies and procedures to ensure that
they take account of the new rights of civil partners.
'Civil partners must be treated in the same way as married
employees,' said Ms Parr. 'Jersey employers must now
recognise that civil partners are entitled to employment benefits,
including pensions for example, in the same way as a married
couple.'
The firm's Carl Ashcroft explained the law, which follows
similar legislation in the UK six years ago: 'The legislation
gives civil partnerships the same legal recognition as marriage;
wherever the law was based on the notion of 'spouse', those
laws will be changed to include civil partners.
'From adoptions to wills and all eventualities in between,
including income tax, the law ensures that all aspects of civil
partnerships are fully recognised.'
Employers must be on top of the implications for their business,
said Ms Parr, since employment tribunals in both Jersey and
Guernsey rely heavily on English decisions.
'Employers should review the benefits that they make
available to spouses of employees to ensure they are made available
to civil partners, including in-house or third party discounts,
travel concessions and insurance based benefits including
healthcare and private medical cover.'
The Civil Partnership (Jersey) Law 2012 could also impact on
pensions – for example can civil partners secure
survivor's benefits?
And as well as recognising civil partnerships in the same way as
they do marriages, employers must also ensure that civil partners
are not subject to any discrimination in the workplace because of
their sexual orientation, should their status as a civil partner
become known among the workforce, said Ms Parr.
For anyone needing further information about the ceremony
itself, Mr Ashcroft says that the Office of the Superintendent
Registrar can supply further information.
He added: 'Civil ceremonies will be celebrated in much the
same way as marriages taking place before the Registrar, although
the law specifically forbids any religious element. Anyone 16 or
over may enter into a civil partnership, although consent of a
parent or guardian is required for those who are not yet 18.
'The law also ensures by specific reference to the Gender
Recognition (Jersey) Law 2010 that anyone, regardless of birth
gender, may now enter into fully solemnised and recognised
relations with their partner of choice.'
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