Obesity Discrimination?

[Loosehead]

Do ABers think there is discrimination in employement against Obesity as reported in the news recently?

[smudge]

One 'skinny' man I employed in our accounts dept., looked as fit as a fiddle - that is until one day, he wasn't answering his phone. I walked into his office to find him slumped over his desk - drunk!

I took him home, then had a meeting with him the next day, where he admitted he was a 'recovering' alcoholic. (I'd had my suspicions the week before, after finding a bottle of Vodka in one of his desk drawers. This was after being informed on his first day, that alcohol was not permitted on the premises).

At the meeting, he admitted to lying on his application form, saying he had no serious health problems. He had in fact been having treatment for liver problems!

As he was still within his first 3 month trial period & the fact that he'd ignored the 'No alcohol on the premises' warning & that he'd lied on his application form regarding his health - it was agreed that we should part company. He did not argue with this & took no action against our Company.

P.S. I had followed up references, but both said he'd left under his own steam & for 'personal' reasons - to which he'd made up some **** & bull story!

[smudge]

The moral there is - even 'skinny' people can be hazardous in the work place!

[stevie21]

True, but there's more of a guarantee with fatties.

[davver]

With forklift truck drivers, it would be an advantage to be fat as the weight would give the truck extra stability. However, a fit and strong assistant would be needed for all the jumping on and off to pick things up, move things around and other jobs that can't be done with the blunt instrument of a forklift truck despite the degree of dexterity that experienced drivers can achieve (speaking as someone with a little experience in this area myself).
On a more serious note, obesity is often both a sign and a cause of ill-health, laziness and lack of self-respect. This is not always the case, however, as there may be other causes such as natural build or a 'bon vivant' lifestyle. Therefore it must be deduced from the rest of the person's appearance and their character whether they are overweight for a reason that matters or one that does not.