I completely agree. The so-called "marriage tax" is a joke, and often the marrieds have children which means they pay even less in taxes, sometimes half what I do in taxes. The only way I'd get a tax break is to have a child as a single- I wouldn't bring a child into the world as a tax deduction.

I also had to deal with getting *more* work shoved on my desk as a single worker because married co-workers had to go pick up a husband, wife or kids around 2 to 5p before. I didn't have that luxury - they knew I was single, so I had all the time in the world to pick up the slack - right?

Both sets of workers have their issues, but I wish that people would look out for the *worker* as a whole.

Great interview! DePaulo brings up many important points that are largely overlooked by the establishment.

As singles, we really need to stand up for ourselves and promote policies that would end workplace discrimination against singles. Unfortunately, the single population doesn't have the best voting record, and we don't tend to speak with one voice. I suspect that's because many singles see their singleness as a temporary state. As more people realize that they may be single long-term, either by choice or circumstance, I hope more of us will become active in pushing for change. If you are single and these laws bother you, please consider writing to your senator or representative or submitting a letter to the editor of your local paper.

Great article. I would like to add one more point about singles' workplace issues- we don't have anyone else to pick up the household/personal tasks when we're working (and yes, we have just as many household and personal tasks to take care of). My first job out of college required working at night and many weekends. I didn't necessarily mind all the work, but I always thought, "when does my boss expect me to clean my apartment and go food shopping?" I noticed that the bosses who require this sort of thing are usually married (men).

Not to mention that singles already get a bad deal at home: expenses like utilities, rent/mortgage, food, transportation, insurance, vacations, are not shared, making them far more expensive for singles.

Brian, that point doesn't really apply because anyone who is willing to share space will save money, whether they are married or not. Of course if you have a roommate or live with a boyfriend/girlfriend, you will share expenses just as a married couple would.

As a recently married person I have not personally noticed any differences in either work load or treatment at the office since leaving the single world. Aside from getting more (unpaid) vacation time for my honeymoon than I or anyone else normally would, there has been no special treatment. Insurance is an obvious exception, though my husband and I have chosen to each remain on our own employers’ plans. Also, my employer allows domestic partners on my policy, married or not, but I realize this is not universal.

I do take issue with the tax point here. The logic is generally flawed because I think you SHOULD compare what the married couple pays to what they paid when single, rather than compare what the couple pays to what a single with the same income pays. This is because they are in different tax brackets. If the married couple has a combined income of $50K, they are supporting two people on $25K each. The single person being compared here would have an individual income of $50K, which he or she would use to support only one person. If you are making double the money of the person you are comparing yourself to, you should expect to be paying a higher tax rate than they do.

The marriage tax benefit does exist, but only if the combined income is below a certain point. I’m not sure where that cutoff point is, but if the couple makes more than that the marriage penalty is very real. My husband and I are unquestionably paying more taxes now than we did combined before we got married. The marriage benefit only comes in if one partner is making all the money while the other stays at home. In this case, the stay-at-home partner is treated basically as a dependent, as a child would be. So the benefit is only available if the couple is (a) low income or (b) chooses to live on one income. I admit that those things are not fair to single people in the same situation, but please know that the majority of married couples are not in that situation, and are not getting away with paying less taxes than singles.

good point about kids-parents are the ones who REALLY get off easy. I mean Im sure raising kids is tough but its your choice. Here's a funny thing for singles/child free people
www.theofficekid.com

SIngles get the short end of the stick in so many ways. The obvious workplace issues have already been touched on here, but how about the discrimination practiced against singles by car insurance companies. I was shocked to learn that as a 40 year old single woman who had never had an accident or any kind of a claim my entire driving history, and who drove very few miles per day (I worked out of my home office) I was penalized because I was not married!

I think single people without children should get a tax break for not "taxing" the system. Those of us who have deliberately chosen not to reproduce should get some sort of break.

As a long time single employee it's easy to agree with this article - so many times I was disciplined for being five minutes late as a younger person when my child-rearing co-workers could waltz in an hour late and mumble the magic words "my kid..." and walk away scott-free.

However, as I got older I also saw those married co-workers financially destroyed by divorce, get run to 'soccer practice' etc., come in with bags under thier eyes from staying up all night worrying about a wayward teenager and otherwise suffering the burdens of family life.

All in all, it seems like a wash, though I have also learned to not discuss my blissful single life around the workplace, too. :-)

I am defiantly seen the discrimination in the work place. Where I currently work everyone has children except for two of us. The two that are single without children are expected to close every night of the week, so the others can leave to pick up their kids. They say it is only 15 minutes, but that could be longer if issues arise at the end of the day with the computers. We also have to wait on another department to call us to tell us that we are good to go and can end out on a computer which can take a good 5 minutes. I feel that employers do not value the personal time of those who are single without children.