fat discrimination

HonkyTonks

Was just reading about a study that showed obese people were discriminated against during the job selection process, this did not surprise me.

The article is here - http://www.news.com.au/business/worklife/obese-job-applicants-face-bias-report/story-e6frfm9r-1226343263397

Have you ever felt your job prospects were limited because of your weight?

TheFunBun

I haven't. I have seen it happen in several places that I worked as I always seem to have unprofessional bosses. I would also say breast size is a big component for overweight females as well, in my experience.

I know further up the corporate ladder it's also because of insurance premiums, as having a lot of obese employees will jack the rates up significantly.

HonkyTonks

how is the insurance thing worked out? we don't have that issue here

TheFunBun

Ohhh, usually they have someone come by and check out the place and the statistics .. I guess an insurance adjuster of some kind, and then that person cranks numbers and gives the company a rate. If you have a lot of obesity, or a lot of older people, it can cause the insurance rates to go up for the company, which in turn causes them to be higher for the employees. A lot of good businesses will offer other benefits that lead to weight loss (gyms, biggest loser contests with huge prizes, smoking cessation) so that they can pay less in the long run.

I never thought of that issue as a pro for socialized medicine, but I guess it's a huge one! I wonder if it would decrease fat discrimination in the US... hmmm!

KJVBear33

I haven't myself, but this is one thing, unfortunately, that is hard to see and hard to fight against. You can't exactly say that you are being discriminated against because you want said job, but yet you don't want to be discriminated against either. And since its so easy to get away with, most companies do.

I think that if a person is worried about it being an issue, to put forth some sort of comment about it yourself. If you say something about yourself that you are willing and wanting to change for yourself and what great accomplishments you have seen so far, I think that it might put a positive spin and get them to really look at the bigger picture.........which would be that you are a person with drive and motivation to take on a task like that. That you put yourself in the position to be responsible for your own well being and that you had recognized it as something that doesn't work in your life to begin with.

That way they know how you feel and you feel you aren't going to be discriminated against.

runmybunsoff

Oh absolutely. The field that I am trying to get into (legal) is extremely image conscious, at least in the area that I live. It can be very exhausting, both physically and mentally. I definitely believe my weight has a lot to do with landing a job in this field, and it's a partly (emphasis on partly) a reason why I joined MFP. On top of that, I've been prescribed topical creams and solutions out the wazoo. lol So I kind of feel like I'm in a "Legally Blonde"/"Miss Congeniality" mode right now. But its very important for the field I want to be in, so I'm willing to go all out, within reasonable measures, of course.

HonkyTonks

I personally feel that my weight in the past affected my job opportunities. I feel like interviewers respond more positively to me now than before, and I have been able to get the jobs and promotions that I wanted to since I lost weight. I also feel I am treated better in the workplace as well.