Thursday, 22 January 2009

• Weight Gain Means Fewer Job Opportunities And Promotions

  Ms. Piggy Bank

  

  Discrimination happens all the time in the workplace. Whether you're a certain gender, a different ethnicity, or graduated from an unheard of college you're bound to face issues at some point or another.

  However, nowadays weight is also on that list of discriminatory action in the workplace. Apparently, it plays a big part in determining who gets the job or not.
  

  "Fat" in our society is a dirty word and "thin as a pin" is in, and employers are attentive to such social perspectives. So, more or less, overweight job seekers not only have to fret about the current looming economic situation but about drastically reducing their size.

  It's common knowledge that extra pounds can not only hurt your health but your chances at job stability and promotion. Most employers feel no guilt about eliminating meaty workers.
  

  Why the negative take on weight? Because employers link obesity or overweight issues with laziness and unprofessionalism.

  Employers "claim" that they do not discriminate based on weight (probably for fear of reprisals) but I beg to differ. As "the opposite of skinny" female myself, I always sensed some sort of disappointment whenever I went in for job interviews and it made me lose my confidence and edge.
  

  I am chubby, shorter than most, and a woman. In an employer's eyes, they associate such physical traits with lack of ambition and lack of motivation.

  Obviously, I'm not referring to ALL employers but most of them do discriminate based on looks. One interviewer, a new hedge fund owner, was very excited to meet me. He LOVED LOVED LOVED my application, the two phone interviews went really well, and he invited me in for a final face-to-face interview.
  

  I was there with another girl in the waiting room (a girl who did NOT even have a bachelor's degree from what she told me). The instant the receptionist led me into the main office and big boss man awkwardly stood up to loosely shake my hand, I knew the job was a lost cause.
  

  This hedge fund owner was forcing himself to smile and bear through it but, in his mind, I could tell that I was not the administrative assistant he wanted to represent his company.
  

  He probably wanted a modelesque person to remind him of daily appointments and meetings, not Betty Suarez's Mediterranean cousin. The other potential candidate in the waiting room was leggy, blonde, and thin --unlike me. 

  I may be reading too much into this and overreacting, but I'm now self conscious about my unfortunate college weight gain because of this uncomfortable interview.

  I'm not obese but I'm not stick figure either, and I couldn't help but blame this man's unenthusiastic attitude on the size of my new Ann Taylor dress. And surprise surprise I didn't get the job.
  

  The OTHER non college graduate did. Perhaps she had some sort of secret talent that I didn't possess but, I feel that a well earned BA from a prestigious university is pretty much expected.

  Now, this is not a discussion on looks or personality but basic generic attributes that superficially enhance one's job seeking opportunities. The truth of the matter is that overweight people are being hired less and less by employers and are sometimes fired or not promoted based on their body size.
  

  I am personally appalled by this because overweight issues can sometimes stem from other larger health troubles or depression. Moreover, it takes a long time to fit back into those single digit pants; losing weight is a difficult process but employers should extend support to their employees rather than kick them to the curb.

  Overall, you shouldn't judge a person based on their body weight. Sure, if this is some sort of outdoor based job or fireman rescue team, by all means go ahead because that is a physically demanding position.
  

  At least that's explainable as opposed to a basic desk job. However, don't cut someone off just because they don't meet your weight standards. Weight shouldn't correlate with productivity. As long as they are dressed appropriately and are qualified, accomplished individuals, you have nothing to lose as an employer.

   Do you think overweight people are discriminated when it comes to better promotions or snagging a job?  Do you know of anyone who has been discriminated based on his/her size?

  dollarish.com
  

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