It's easy to understand why issues about weight and obesity discrimination are being raised more frequently these days. According to the American Obesity Association 127 million adults in the U.S. are overweight, 60 million are clinically obese, and 9 million are severely obese. As with any clearly defined group, it is inevitable that some overweight and obese people will identify themselves as victims of discrimination solely because they are a member the group. It is also inevitable that others will advocate on behalf of the overweight and obese people to ensure that discrimination against them is officially defined as unacceptable.
This weight and obesity discrimination scenario surfaced this week in the U.S. retail industry when a former Hooters Restaurant waitress in Michigan filed a lawsuit alleging that she was the victim of weight discrimination when she told by her boss to get lighter or get lost. After receiving a free gym membership and a probation form to sign, the employee decided that the only thing she wanted to lose was her job and the only thing she wanted to find was a lawyer.
Hiring and employment practices in the Hooters organization are always complicated, but in this case, the questions that are being raised about weight, obesity, diversity, harassment, hiring, and employment laws are not unique to the Hooters chain, which gains much of its unique selling proposition from scantily clad and physically attractive women. Beyond this Hooters case, weight and obesity are becoming contentious issues in many ways for retail organization.
In April, 2010, Lane Bryant... read more >>
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Comments
“But with all other qualifications, education, and personalities being equal, is it unreasonable for an employer to err on the side of caution and hire the person who exhibits no signs of addiction at all?”
What does food addiction have to do with whether the applicant would be a good, qualified employee? Just because someone is addicted to food does not mean they are addicted to something that could impair job performance, like drugs or alcohol. If you think a food addicted employee is going to sit at their desk or stand behind their register all day eating instead of working, then you have much bigger problems. I’d rather hire a food addict than a stupid person.
I firmly believe that employers should have the right to hire employees that project the image the company is looking for. As a consumer, I expect the employees in a company to reflect the values and virtues of the organization and their products. I would never let a person with bad hair cut my hair and would never seek out an unfit person for personal training services. The fact that these nuisance lawsuits are getting any attention at all is the discouraging part. Seems like these unemployable people are finding a way to keep busy!