Unlike recent changes to federal personnel policy that apply only to same-sex partners, the changes also apply to opposite-sex domestic partners. The policy change — published in Monday’s Federal Register — is part of reforms ordered last year by President Obama when he extended fringe benefits to the same-sex partners of gay federal workers. Government lawyers concluded that opposite-sex partners did not need to be included in those changes because heterosexual couples may obtain such benefits through marriage.

The change announced Monday essentially adds opposite-sex and same-sex partners, stepparents, stepchildren, grandparents and grandchildren to the list of relationships that permit a federal worker to take leave. The changes do not apply to the Family and Medical Leave Act, a law that only Congress can change.