TCS 1st Tata Group firm to offer health insurance benefits to LGBT employees

IT services major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which employs over 4 lakh people across the world, has become one of the first Tata Group companies to announce changes in its health insurance policy in order to provide benefits to employees involved in a same-sex relationship. The change in health insurance policy would now benefit all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender or LGBT employees in the company.

According to an email received by the company's employees, the new health policy redefines 'spouse' as a partner, The Times of India reported. TCS' new insurance policy will cover up to 50 per cent cost of sex or gender reassignment surgery, the report adds.

"Respect for the individual is one of our core TCS values, and built on this value, we continue our journey towards LGBTQ+ inclusion. We believe in building an organization where everyone feels included, involved and respected. We want to make the ecosystem fare and conducive for all," TCS Global Diversity chief Preeti D'mello told the daily.

Notably, a handful of big companies, which includes Godrej Group, Accenture, IBM India, Citibank, Capgemini India and RBS India, already offer similar policies to members of the LGBT community.

Source: Business Today