Affidavit of Spousal Equivalency
	Termination of Spousal Equivalency
	Memo announcing the policy

If you sent email and received a response, you only have the
first two.

I am in no way affiliated with Lotus Corporation.  These
documents were sent to me from Lotus when I requested them
on behalf of the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights.

--gordon
Gordon Linoff  Thinking Machines Corp. Cambridge, MA 02142   617-234-2070
Internet: gordon@think.com  uucp: {mit-eddie, uunet}!think!gordon


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	       LOTUS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

	      AFFIDAVIT OF SPOUSAL EQUIVALENCY


I.  DECLARATION:

We, __________________ and ___________________________
     employee (print)       spousal equivalent (print)

certify that we are spousal equivalents in accordance with
the following criteria and eligible for benefits coverage as
spousal equivalents under Lotus Development Corporation's
benefits program:


II.  STATUS:

	1.	We are each other's sole spousal equivalent
		and intend to remain so indefinitely.

	2.	We are of the same sex and neither one of us
		is married.

	3.	We are at least eighteen (18) years of age
		and mentally competent to consent to
		contract.

	4.	We are not related by blood to a degree of
		closeness than which would prohibit legal
		marriage in the state in which we legally
		reside.

	5.	We reside together in the same residence and
		intend to do so indefinitely.

	6.	We are jointly responsible for each other's
		common welfare and financial obligations.

	7.	We understand that as spousal equivalents we
		are subject to the same thirty-one (31_ day
		notice requirement set forth in Lotus'
		Flexible Benefits Program as are all other
		Lotus employees who are covered by or
		applying for Lotus benefits.


III.  CHANGE IN SPOUSAL EQUIVALENCY:

	8.	We agree to notify the Lotus Benefits
		Department if there is any change in our
		status as spousal equivalents as attested to
		in this Affidavit which would make us no
		longer eligible for Lotus benefits (for
		example a change in joint-residence or if we
		are no longer each other's sole spousal
		equivalent).  We will notify Lotus within
		thirty-one (31) days of such change by
		filing a Statement off Termination of
		Spousal Equivalency ("Statement of
		Termination").  The Statement of Termination
		shall affirm that the spousal equivalency
		status is terminated as of its date of
		execution and that a copy of the Statement
		of Termination has been mailed to the other
		party by the party authorizing such action.

	9.	After such termination, I, ____________,
                                            (employee)
		
		understand that a subsequent Affidavit of
		Spousal Equivalency cannot be filed until
		twelve (12) months after a Statement of
		Termination has been filed with the Lotus
		Benefits Department.  (The twelve (12) month
		waiting period will be waived only if
		another Affidavit is filed for the same
		spousal equivalent within thirty-one (31)
		days following the filing date of the
		Statement of Termination.)


IV.  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

	10.	We understand that any person/employer/
		company who suffers any loss due to any
		false statement contained in this Affidavit
		may bring a civil action against either or
		both of us to recover their losses,
		including reasonable attorneys' fees.

	11.	We have provided the information in this
		Affidavit for use by Lotus' Benefits
		Department for the sole purpose of
		determining our eligibility for spousal
		equivalency benefits.

	12.	We affirm, under penalty of perjury, that
		the assertions in this Affidavit are true to
		the best of our knowledge.


Community Property Implications:  Please be advised that
some courts have recognized non-marriage relationships as
the equivalent of marriage for the purpose of establishing
and dividing community property.



____________________________	____________
employee signature		Date


____________________________

____________________________
employee address


____________________________	____________
spousal equivalent signature	Date


____________________________

____________________________
spousal equivalent address

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	       LOTUS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

	     TERMINATION OF SPOUSAL EQUIVALENCY


_______________________________________, being duly sworn,
 employee or spousal equivalent (print)

deposes and say that:

	1. _________________________________________ and I
	    (name of employee or spousal equivalent)

	are no longer spousal equivalents.


	2. I make and file this Statement of Termination in
	   order to cancel the Affidavit of Spousal
	   Equivalency filed by me Lotus Development
	   Corporation on ______________________.

	3. I mailed my former spousal equivalent a copy of
	   this notice at ________________________________
	   on ________________________.

I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the above
statements are true and correct.


Signed:		____________________________

Print:		____________________________

Address:	____________________________

Date:		____________________________


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LOTUS


To:		All U.S. Lotus Employees
From:		Russ Campanello, Vice President, Human Resources
Subject:	Spousal Equivalent Benefits


Since early in its history, Lotus has had a stated policy
prohibiting discrimination based on sexual preference.
Lotus recognizes that lesbian and gay employees do not have
the choice to legalize permanent and exclusive relationships
through marriage; thus, they cannot legally share financial,
health, and other benefits with their significant partners.
For this reason, in the interest of fairness and diversity,
Lotus will recognize the significance of such relationships
by including them in our policies and benefits.


Spousal Equivalent

Lotus policies and benefits will refer to employees'
same-sex partners as "spousal equivalents," rather than
"domestic partners" or "significant others."  This phrase
has been selected to highlight the fact that, unlike couples
of the opposite sex, marriage for gay and lesbian couples is
not an option, since it is not sanctioned by U.S. state
laws.

Effective immediately, the phrase "spousal equivalent" will
be added to all Lotus policies in the U.S. wherever the word
"spouse" is used.  (Among the policies this affects are
Relocation, Bereavement Leave, and Expatriate Assignments.)
spousal equivalents of lesbian and gay employees and their
qualified dependents will also be eligible to receive
medical, dental, vision, and hearing health coverage.

While many companies throughout the U.S. are cutting back
health coverage for employees, the issue of extending
benefits to employees with non-traditional families is
currently being given serious consideration by a number of
public and private institutions.  Few companies in the
private sector have provided benefits to employees' domestic
partners; experts anticipate that we're on the cutting-edge
of a trend more companies are likely to join.  Those who
have extended health coverage to domestic partners of
employees have been closely watched.  Their reports are
uniformly similar.  Data indicates that coverage of same-sex
employees and their partners has not significantly increased
their per capita health care expenses.  Fears that AIDS will
drive up costs have proved to be unfounded.


Criteria for Spousal Equivalents

Lotus employees can designate only one person as an eligible
dependent for benefits as a spousal equivalent; each person
must be the sole partner of the other.

Spousal equivalents must:

	*  be the same sex as the employee;

	*  live in the same residence with the intents to
	   reside together permanently;

	*  be jointly responsible for the common welfare and
	   financial obligations of both individuals.

Employees interested in receiving more information about
spousal equivalent benefits can contract their Human
Resources representative; to enroll, contact Helen Berry in
the Benefits department.  (Note:  all Lotus benefit
information is subject to strict confidentiality between the
employee and Human Resources and may not be shared with
anyone without the employee's written consent.)


Diversity at Lotus

In the past year, we have made great strides in our
continuing efforts to create a workplace where all employees
are valued, respected, and given equal and fair treatment.
This new policy is further evidence of our firm commitment
to value differences and provide fair and equal access to
benefits for all Lotus employees.  I wholeheartedly endorse
this policy and am proud to be part of a company in which
such policies are possible.

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