Compensation claims from people facing 'Fatism'
Compensation claims from people facing 'Fatism'
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Discussion

Jaglover

Original Poster:

46,795 posts

265 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
"..She said: "To date, obesity has not been given the same recognition as sex, age, disabilities and race discrimination."

But they're going to change that :hehe:

BBC article

Overweight job hunters 'lose out'

Overweight people were said to lack self-discipline
Overweight workers find it harder to get jobs than their slim counterparts, an online survey suggests.
The magazine survey of 2,000 personnel officers found most preferred to offer jobs to workers of a "normal weight".

Half of those polled by Personnel Today thought obesity affected productivity. A similar number believed overweight people lacked self-discipline.

The magazine's editor Karen Dempsey said it suggested hidden discrimination and overweight people were missing out.

She said: "To date, obesity has not been given the same recognition as sex, age, disabilities and race discrimination.

"But as our survey shows, overweight workers are being marginalised and given fewer opportunities than their slimmer counterparts."

The survey also found that one in 10 personnel officers would not want an overweight employee to meet a client. The same percentage believed they could sack a worker for being obese.

Ms Dempsey added that a "clearer definition of obesity" was needed to help businesses understand how it "truly affects" workplace performance.

Health concerns

Ben Willmott, from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, told BBC News most employers choose people on the basis of ability, but added that weight is a "small aspect" which some employers take into account.

"When employers make a decision to employ someone, they want to bring someone on board who is going to be a productive and engaged individual," he said, explaining that some employers may have health concerns about overweight candidates.

But Mr Willmott added: "I think most employers treat people as individuals and recruit them on their ability to do the job rather than how much they weigh."

Meanwhile, Daniel Thomas, Personnel Today deputy editor, said there was little protection for overweight employees.

Mr Thomas said: "There's no such thing as fattism yet.....but if an obese person can prove they're actually disabled - so for example they've got dyslexia or they're depressed - then they can take that to an employment tribunal."


Plotloss

67,280 posts

300 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
Oh, I was wondering what it was.

Bloody fatists...

billb

3,198 posts

295 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
no sympathy with them at all bar a very small majority who might genuinley have a medical condition. get ure fat arse to the gym and eat less its as simply as that. hopefully theyre to fat to fit through the courtroom doors or will be too busy suing mcdonalds for their own laxziness to make this stick

scorp

8,783 posts

259 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
JagLover said:

Mr Thomas said: "There's no such thing as fattism yet.....but if an obese person can prove they're actually disabled - so for example they've got dyslexia or they're depressed - then they can take that to an employment tribunal."


What blatant opportunism!

Size Nine Elm

5,167 posts

314 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
If they win at the tribunal they get awarded a biscuit.

Plotloss

67,280 posts

300 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
satch said:
if you're recruiting for It's a Knockout ?



[stuarthall]
He he he, here come the fatties
[/stuarthall]

cotty

42,247 posts

314 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
Jaglover said:
The magazine's editor Karen Dempsey said it suggested hidden discrimination and overweight people were missing out.

She said: "To date, obesity has not been given the same recognition as sex, age, disabilities and race discrimination.


Difference is you cant change these (well ok the sex one is possible) but fat people can get slim.

Find me a fat person who eats salad or a slim person who eats junk. it aint rocket sience

Chim450

1,452 posts

291 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
From the original article it appears that fat people are sometimes being positively discriminated against when applying for jobs. Fair enough if their being overweight would affect their ability to do the job but if not then discrimination is discrimination whatever way you look at it.

markh508

80 posts

265 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
BBC said:
Mr Thomas said: "There's no such thing as fattism yet.....but if an obese person can prove they're actually disabled - so for example they've got dyslexia or they're depressed - then they can take that to an employment tribunal."


And since when was being depressed a disability?

billb

3,198 posts

295 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
Chim450 said:
From the original article it appears that fat people are sometimes being positively discriminated against when applying for jobs. Fair enough if their being overweight would affect their ability to do the job but if not then discrimination is discrimination whatever way you look at it.


but being fat shows they have little self control, discipline etc and are more likely to be off ill etc so why shouldnt they be discriminated against as an emplyoyer? i'm talking an obese person here not just a few pies too many

scorp

8,783 posts

259 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
markh508 said:

And since when was being depressed a disability?


Since lawyers can win court cases with it.

JMGS4

8,932 posts

300 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
billb said:

Chim450 said:
From the original article it appears that fat people are sometimes being positively discriminated against when applying for jobs. Fair enough if their being overweight would affect their ability to do the job but if not then discrimination is discrimination whatever way you look at it.


but being fat shows they have little self control, discipline etc and are more likely to be off ill etc so why shouldnt they be discriminated against as an emplyoyer? i'm talking an obese person here not just a few pies too many


Obese people are rarely in a state to be able to hold down a regular job for exactly the reasons above, all european health insurance companies will concede this...
my employees have to take a health check by the medical insurance. If they don't pass, no insurance cover, then no job.... (i.e. overweight by more than BMI 24 ....)
With this I'm protecting the jobs of the other employees as they will not have to "carry" a permanently sick "fatty".... standard practice in Germany France etc.....
Britain wake up to the realities, and don't be PC, if they're obese DON'T employ them it'll cost you more than two other employees in the long run!!!

900T-R

20,406 posts

287 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
cotty said:

... or a slim person who eats junk.



Munter

31,331 posts

271 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
cotty said:

Find me a fat person who eats salad or a slim person who eats junk. it aint rocket sience


I'm about 6ft and 9 Stone. I eat Pizza/Chips/Pie&Chips/Chinese Takeout etc etc. And I take no exersize apart from "entertaining" the girlfriend.

But your right about the fat people. Some people can eat junk and their body just passes it. With fat people their body absorbs the junk so they have to eat less of it/exersize more. Which is hardly difficult. Lets face it the 1st section in most supermarkets is the fruit and veg... You have to walk past that to get to the junk...

Dakkon

7,833 posts

283 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
billb said:

Chim450 said:
From the original article it appears that fat people are sometimes being positively discriminated against when applying for jobs. Fair enough if their being overweight would affect their ability to do the job but if not then discrimination is discrimination whatever way you look at it.



but being fat shows they have little self control, discipline etc and are more likely to be off ill etc so why shouldnt they be discriminated against as an emplyoyer? i'm talking an obese person here not just a few pies too many


I now have the mental image from Judge Dredd of fat people moving about with belly wheels

Chim450

1,452 posts

291 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
billb said:

but being fat shows they have little self control, discipline etc and are more likely to be off ill etc so why shouldnt they be discriminated against as an emplyoyer? i'm talking an obese person here not just a few pies too many


Rather a sweeping statement there. Seeing as something like 20% of the adult population in the UK are classed as obese.

I agree that sickness and morbid obesity do go hand in hand but I find the statement that they have "little self control and discipline" rather absurd in relation to work, are you trying to say that if someone can't control their urge to eat too many pies and cakes that somehow they won't be disciplined at work as well?

esselte

14,626 posts

297 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
Chim450 said:

billb said:

but being fat shows they have little self control, discipline etc and are more likely to be off ill etc so why shouldnt they be discriminated against as an emplyoyer? i'm talking an obese person here not just a few pies too many



Rather a sweeping statement there. Seeing as something like 20% of the adult population in the UK are classed as obese.

I agree that sickness and morbid obesity do go hand in hand but I find the statement that they have "little self control and discipline" rather absurd in relation to work, are you trying to say that if someone can't control their urge to eat too many pies and cakes that somehow they won't be disciplined at work as well?


I suppose logically he is saying that thin people are always disciplined and controlled? Yeah,right.

scorp

8,783 posts

259 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
Munter said:

I'm about 6ft and 9 Stone. I eat Pizza/Chips/Pie&Chips/Chinese Takeout etc etc. And I take no exersize apart from "entertaining" the girlfriend.


6ft and 9st, thats nearly anorexic?! Everyone moans at me for being 6'4 and 11.5st (normal weight = 13st).

I eat junk food like it was going out of fashion, apparently i have an 'enviable' metabolism too

Munter

31,331 posts

271 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
Chim450 said:

billb said:

but being fat shows they have little self control, discipline etc and are more likely to be off ill etc so why shouldnt they be discriminated against as an emplyoyer? i'm talking an obese person here not just a few pies too many



Rather a sweeping statement there. Seeing as something like 20% of the adult population in the UK are classed as obese.

I agree that sickness and morbid obesity do go hand in hand but I find the statement that they have "little self control and discipline" rather absurd in relation to work, are you trying to say that if someone can't control their urge to eat too many pies and cakes that somehow they won't be disciplined at work as well?


I agree with him. People who take the easy option with food/lifestyle are hardly likely to take the hard option when it comes to work are they. Would you want someone who doesn't care about their appearance enough to change it meeting clients!

Munter

31,331 posts

271 months

Tuesday 25th October 2005
quotequote all
scorp said:


6ft and 9st, thats nearly anorexic?! Everyone moans at me for being 6'4 and 11.5st (normal weight = 13st).

I eat junk food like it was going out of fashion, apparently i have an 'enviable' metabolism too


Makes me quick in a gokart Plus I love Dr's who say you really should put on a bit of weight. What do you eat. I tell them then they just go. Oh...well thats not it. Carry on.