Weight Discrimination
Weight DiscriminationPrejudice against heavier people is very well prevalent in our society and people who are larger in size than the average experience it very often. With increasing obesity in our country, there is also a rise in weight discrimination. A recent study from Yale University found that weight discrimination occurs in employment settings and daily interpersonal relationships as often as race discrimination. Women suffer the weight discrimination more than the men. The Yale study found that overweight women are twice more likely to face discrimination than overweight men. Plus, the discrimination starts earlier in women’s weight gain. According to the study, discrimination becomes a more serious risk for men when their BMI reaches 35; for women, at BMI 27.
In a study, heavier and average weight job applicants were matched for equal qualifications, equal references, and similar personalities. Hiring staff usually chose the thinner applicants with equal qualifications. People make unfounded assumptions about the larger applicants being too aggressive, difficult to work with, lacking in self-discipline, less productive, or less determined. Employers are neglecting qualified applicants and choosing to hire who are less qualified simply because of their appearance, and specifically because of their weight, thus resulting in a tremendous waste of worker talent.
People who are heavier than average are denied equal opportunity in many areas of their lives. They are not employed where physical work is involved or where they have to interact with customers in person. Large people are generally denied health insurance and life insurance, or they have to pay higher premiums than those of average weight. Applicants are often turned down by educational institutions because of their size. Workers, whose weight is more than the average are generally paid less than their average weight counterpart. In a famous discrimination case which went to the Supreme Court, a college made a nursing student sign a contract promising to lose weight or be expelled (the Court invalidated the contract).
There are no federal employment laws and only one state law (Michigan) specifically prohibits weight discrimination, obese people are being harassed and mistreated very often.
Employers should avoid discriminating against obese employees and job applicants, both legally and ethically. If they are legitimately concerned about the rising costs associated with obesity in the workplace, The Conference Board report gives the employer ideas to try non-discriminatory solutions like:
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Weight reduction program Implementation. According to The Conference Board report, more than 40% of U.S. companies have already implemented such a wellness program, and an additional 24% plan to do so this year. Tips: Keep program participation voluntary and private, and involve employees in the planning.
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Maintain a healthy workplace culture. Ideas: Get vending machines stocked with bottled water and healthy snacks, instead of sodas and candy; offer annual health fairs with cardiovascular screenings; reach out to local health clubs to obtain employee discounts; sponsor a company softball team, as well as other activities that may attract employees of all fitness levels.
