Page 1 of Obese people: source of warmth or object of discrimination?

Found this on the bbc website.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4373746.stm
It says that overweight people find it more difficult to get jobs and also cites a poll that said that 50% of those surveyed thought obesity affected productivity.

They want such discrimination to be treated similar to sex and age discrimination.

Now, for me, while i don`t think discrimination is useful, i don`t think this quite fits. Obesity, is more of a choice than your sex or race, and if, in your experience, obese employees are less productive, then that is valid reason to avoid them. Similarly, you may find that employees with wildly dyed hair are less punctual, then i think you are justified in avoiding them.

Is this prejudice in disguise?

I`m completely avoiding the issue of whether fat people are actually lazy or not, but i do think that a person`s weight tells you something about their character or personality.

Its about peoples ingrained pre-conceptions. People see fat people as lazy with no self control just as when they hear a brummie accent they hear someone thick. Quite often it happens completely subconciously so it would be incredibly hard to legislate against. Unless the government introduced a fat bloke quota in the workforce.

Personally, the only time I discriminate against fat people is when im on public transport.

Actually, coming to think about it, I dont really think anything less of fat people unless they are smoking a fag. I think the two just screams `Waynetta`.

Quote:
but i do think that a person`s weight tells you something about their character or personality.
I agree, it can`t tell you anything.

I suppose you have to put yourself in the shoes of a HR Manager or Department Manager who has a choice to make...
Two identically qualified (experience and academics) candidates, but one was fat, one was not...what would you honestly do if it was your Department or Company?

Neil.

Quote:
two identically qualified (experience and academics) candidates, but one was fat, one was not...what would you honestly do if it was your Department or Company?

Jesus.. I am glad I am not a manager..

Quote:
Actually, coming to think about it, I dont really think anything less of fat people unless they are smoking a fag
Oh yeah, and like being Ginger is ok is it ??? (joke) :D

Quote:
People see fat people as lazy with no self control But I do look at very fat/obese people and think "how did/could you let yourself get like that!?" I mean, at what point does it start to get a problem? I could just never let myself get fat/over-weight (if the scale hits 12st7lbs then I`m dieting!).

Your body is your "vessel" so to speak - would you let your car get in such a dangerous/un-driveable state? Yes, it`s their bodies and their lives - but when you are thinking of employing someone etc., it becomes your concern too.

Anyway, that`s only my opinion (braces for impact!) :D

This item was edited on Tuesday, 25th October 2005, 12:08

Quote:
Its about peoples ingrained pre-conceptions. People see fat people as lazy with no self control


To be honest,speaking as a manager (and strictly speaking about obese people here,not slightly overweight people) I would also worry about their attendance because of health issues.

A friend of mine works for local government,who will take all and sundry (probably because they`re terrified to discriminate,whereas the private sector can pick and choose).
They have one particular `behemoth` who wheezes through the day,basically hacking everyone off with his noisy breathing and his lack of hygiene.That`s just the days he`s there.He takes days off for obesity related problems all the bleeding time.

I wouldn`t consider Churchill obese Zovirax,so you`ll have to try harder there.
Obese,in my mind,is that darts player ( is it Andy Fordam or something ? )

Andy Fordam is morbidly obese.

You could probably become clinically obese just by eating an extra Mars bar a day for a year.

So people should really stop thinking obesity is something associated with 30 stone-types. I`m getting a little chunky round the gut and probably ain`t far off it. Who the f*** is to say some thin, lanky streak of pish can do a better job than me?

"I may be a bastard, but I`m not a f***ing bastard"

This item was edited on Tuesday, 25th October 2005, 13:08