CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 15: Customers shop at a Walmart Neighborhood Market store on August 15, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, reported a surprise decline in second-quarter same-store sales today. The retailer also cut its revenue and profit forecasts for the fiscal year. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images); Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Over a thousand current and former employees have filed  suit against the retail giant Walmart over health benefits for same sex couples.

Before 2014, Walmart denied healthcare coverage to employees with same-sex spouses even in states where gay marriage was legalized. 

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 extends protections to employees against discrimination based on sex, but not sexual orientation.

Some legal experts speculate that regardless of the outcome, the suit will create a precedent for increasing LGBT protections in the workplace. 

Josh Eidelson is a Bloomberg Businessweek reporter who covers politics, policy, and labor. 

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