Thursday, 22 January 2009
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Weight Gain Means Fewer Job Opportunities And Promotions
Submitted guest blog. Originally posted here.
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?
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Comments (19)
employers discriminate for so many reasons, including weight. it irritates me that so many things are based on appearance.
keep job hunting. you wouldn't want to work for someone that discriminatory anyway, right? try to overcome the physical discrimination by showing them how friendly, open, and enthusiastic you can be!
wow, that's so horrendous! it's ridiculous how many ways employers can discriminate against applicants, and, frankly, it appalls me that weight should be anywhere near a deciding factor in a job interview. if your resume is great and you have all the references, it'd be crazy not to hire you because of what you look like! -sigh- humans are waaay too shallow nowadays.
There's a book that talks breifly about this. I think it was in Freakonomics.(I could be wrong) They had set up indentical resumes for the 2 different people, and the person that wasn't overweight tends get get hired over the guy that did.
yeahhhh i think this is true. my friend used to work at tgif and the manager told her that she didn't want to hire any "fat" people cos that's a sign they're lazy and unable to move as fast as a "skinny" person would.
People choose who they want to work for them for many reasons. Size is one of them...and I don't think that is wrong. People want a certain image; it's just part of life. I'm not really one to side with people who cry "discrimination!" on this type of thing...and I guarantee you it has a lot to do with me being an actress. Size, look, height, personality, skin color...how I sound when I sing and talk...have everything to do with if I get the job or not. And I don't see anything wrong with that.
Do you think it's conscious or subconscious?
@LadyLibellule@xanga - A little from column A, and a little from column B.
Some employers discriminate because, like OP said, they assume overweight people are lazy and unprofessional.
But I have a hunch that most employers discriminate against overweight people because of image; what @NightCometh@xanga said. Especially if you work in an industry that is partially image-driven i.e. you personally meet and serve clients.
I do know people who are overweight and very, very successful, however. I think attitude carries a person a long way, and if you wear your confidence on your sleeve (or fake your confidence), eventually you will find a job where your employer will value you for your skills. Good luck and believe in your skills.
I feel that overweight people are discriminated everywhere. I remember a post where a woman went into a clothing store to buy an outfit. The lady in front of her was applying for a job. One employee went to go get the manager. The job-seeking woman went elsewhere to look for something while waiting for the manager. The lady buying the outfit was waiting when a woman walks up behind the counter and said, "I'm sorry. You're too thick for this job." The woman was surprised and said, "I'm not the one looking for the job. That woman over there is."
But, yes, I do feel that people are too prejudice towards overweight people in the employment field. It's like what people said about Americans during the Presidential race: "The American people doesn't want someone who can fix the country. They want someone who they can have a beer with." Leave it to your imagination to interpret that. Somehow, it makes sense and relevancy to what I'm trying to say. Hahah.
@NightCometh@xanga - I, too, am an actress. I had to change my college degree choice because I couldn't lose the weight to have a competitive edge in the job market. I completely understand the reasoning behind this, but I will never, ever agree it's right. However, when you do choose a career such as acting, where the majority of the job force is based off of looks, not off of talent, you know what you're getting yourself into. Thus, one of the many reasons I excused myself.
But, in other walks of life, this is becoming more and more prevalent. I am a bigger girl, but I'm also a waitress and I work very hard. I find myself feeling negative towards a girl who is much larger than me, and moves as slowly as a tortoise. She ambles about as if she has nowhere to go, ever. I've never seen this girl with any pep in her step. I do like her, but I find myself thinking she's lazy, and I wonder how much of that has to do with her weight.
I also don't believe that I'm wrong in stating that companies are more apt to hire an overweight man verses an overweight woman. It's one of the sad facts of life. Somehow, it's more acceptable for the man to be overweight than for the woman. At least, that's the way I interpret it.
If I want a competitive edge in the job market today, I have to lose my fat ass and get on with the show.
Honest to goodness, I have had issues at work due to my anorexia nervosa. Literally, I had customers who were so concerned about my weight that they were protesting and speaking to my manager and coworkers about it.
So, I think it's just weight in general. If you are severely overweight, people are going to be worried. If you are severely underweight, people are going to be worried. Making it more impossible to keep a job.
Oh, I've noticed that people who are overweight are discriminated against. I even catch myself stereotyping them. Nonetheless, one of my best friends is "not so thin".
Often times, people who are overweight are stereotyped as being lazy, unintelligent, slackers, having low self-confidence, not hardworking, don't care about themselves, etc.
I think that some of this stereotype is based in fact in that to be overweight you have to slack on taking care of your body. Unfortunately, this has lead to the assumption that overweight people slack on other areas of their lives.
In addition, people who are overweight are more prone to chronic diseases, thereby costing their employers more money due to sick days/medical expenses.
I am not overweight and hope never to be. One of my main reasons is because I want my body to be able to function properly and well. I also just feel better overall when I weigh less. I can move more easily and do more activities I want to with more ease. I have better endurance, and I don't become mentally exhausted quite as quickly.
I admit it: I do struggle with my weight and eating patterns, but over the last month I have lost 8.2 lbs.
If I can do it, so can you.
I definitely think people who are overweight are, unfortunately discriminated against. It seems too often you have to be the right size, the right color, the right gender, and know the right people to get a decent job.
@NightCometh@xanga -
I think you are dead wrong....you choose to be working in an industry that is based so largely on how you look. Applying for a job as an admin hardly warrants someone to be a certain size.
People like you are the reason why our culture is so appearance based.
*no offense to skinny people* skinny people are just as lazy and probably more than overweight people. its just an individual/character thing and has absolutely nothing to do with weight, height or skin color. weight should not be an issue especially in the workforce unless your a model and theres even plus size models.
people are all judgemental. its like its imprinted in our DNA.
@whoopwhoop - "People like you are the reason our society is so appearance based"
LOL! Yes, people like me who were born with working eyes. :P Maybe I should give them back.
@J4MIE_YUN@xanga - I didn't get hired at Fridays because I was "fat and not that pretty" the managers words - not mine. Ugh!
I wouldn't know, since I am what most females aspire to be weight-wise, but it sucks that you lost a job because you're not the stereotype of beauty.
That happens all the time at what I call 'throwaway' jobs - ones where you are completely replacable and your sole goal is to get people to come back. Waitressing jobs, hotel front desk jobs, etc. are the kinds of jobs I'm referring to here. You're just supposed to be a face that makes people want to come back, a nameless grunt. For those jobs, employers can and, (in my opinion) should be picky. It's a competitive world out there, and if the only difference between two restaurants is that one has really attractive waitresses and the other doesn't, a lot of people will go to the one with the attractive waitresses. It gives the company an edge.
I think the major reason that people avoid hiring overweight people for "serious" jobs is health insurance. Who wants to spend more money in today's money-crunched economy? Yeah, health problems can, and do, happen to anyone, regardless of size. But certain expensive health problems (heart disease, stroke, complications of diabetes, etc.) happen much more often to overweight people, and that costs the company productivity and increased health insurance rates. A good hiring manager would take one look at an obese person and see not necessarily an "ugly" person, but a decrease in company revenue due to raised health costs and missed work because of hospital visits. It's not personal; you just happen to be in a group of people that is statistically expensive.
You could have also not been hired because you were overqualified. It does NOT take a degree to be an administrative assistant, and because she had no degree, they could pay her a lot less than they could get away with paying you. I'm not saying he wasn't a discriminating douchebag, because it definitely sounds like he was - I'm just saying possible health care costs + a higher salary due to you having a degree = you not getting hired in most situations. No company wants to spend more money than it absolutely has to.
I think you are really onto something here.
All of the waitresses in the newest restaurant in my small town are almost unhealthily skinny. It's a Max and Ermas, for those of you familiar with it.The boss is a man who weighs around 350lbs, at 5ft 8in.Makes me pissed and I feel guilty eating whenever I am around these toothpick ladies.