The company, the nation’s largest private employer, has been a target of attacks by labor groups for what they call substandard wages and benefits. It said Tuesday that the changes were made so it could have a uniform policy for all 50 states at a time when some states have their own definitions of what constitutes domestic partnerships and civil unions.

Employees can enroll their domestic partners from Oct. 12 through Nov. 1.

Wal-Mart defines domestic partners as spouses of the same-sex or opposite gender. They must be unmarried partners who are not legally separated, who have lived together for at least 12 months, are not married to anyone else, are in an exclusive relationship and plan to continue sharing a household indefinitely, said Randy Hargrove, a Wal-Mart spokesman.

“States have different definitions,” Mr. Hargrove said. “We are going to have our own definition that will apply to our associates.”

The move, which was announced to Wal-Mart workers in postcards sent to them Monday, follows the United States Supreme Court decision in June to overturn a 1996 law that denied federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples. The decision forces the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages in states where they are legal.

Wal-Mart also announced that next year it will offer an eyewear care program, including eye exams, to its eligible associates.

The company, based in Bentonville, Ark., has 1.3 million full-time and part-time workers in the United States. More than half of the workers participate in health care plans, the company says. About 1.1 million Wal-Mart workers and family members combined participate in Wal-Mart’s health care plan.

Article source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/28/business/wal-mart-to-offer-health-benefits-to-domestic-partners.html?partner=rss&emc=rss