Microsoft has joined several other companies in support of legalizing gay marriage in Washington State, where Microsoft is based. The company believes that passing the bill that recognizes marriage for same sex couples is “good for business.”
Microsoft is joining companies like Concur, Group Health, Nike, RealNetworks, and Vulcan Inc. in support of a legislation that would recognize marriage quality for same sex couples in Washington State. Microsoft firmly believes that passing this bill would be good for the company’s business as well as the state’s economy.
“At Microsoft, we pride ourselves on our products and services, our brand, and our global reach. But unquestionably, our employees are our greatest asset,” Microsoft states in an official blog post. “To be successful, it’s critical that we have a workforce that is as diverse as our customers. Every day, the national and global economies are becoming more diverse. The lifeblood of a business is its ability to understand and connect with its customers. We’re no exception. Now more than ever, the most effective workforce is a diverse workforce.”
Microsoft argues that because of diversity, they were able to be the first Fortune 500 company to provide same-sex domestic partnership benefits (back in 1993). Microsoft adds that they have “benefited from this support” for almost two decades.
Microsoft acknowledges that employers in the technology sector are fighting for the top talent. “Marriage equality in Washington would put employers here on an equal footing with employers in the six other states that already recognize the committed relationships of same-sex couples – Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. This in turn will help us continue to compete for talent,” Microsoft argues.
Of course, Microsoft respects those who see otherwise. “While Microsoft’s support for marriage equality is motivated by respect for our employees, we also respect the views of those who may not agree with our position. For example, we have many highly valued and highly successful employees who hold a wide range of views on this and many other issues. We’re not asking anyone to change their views to conform to the company’s position.”
Regardless, Microsoft believes that passing this bill would make Washington State and the economy “stronger.”
