Work

Introduction Size discrimination is widespread in the workplace. Highly productive and qualified individuals are regularly, underpaid, limited in career advancement, denied benefits & terminated due to their size.

Hiring

Fat yet equally qualified applicants are:

• Rated more negatively and are less likely to be hired
• Perceived as unfit for jobs requiring face-to-face interactions
• Regarded as undisciplined, lacking supervisory skills, slovenly & unambitious

Workplace

According to a 2007 study of >2800 Americans the likelihood of reporting weight-based employment discrimination compared to "normal" weight adults was:

• 12 times more likely for overweight adults were.
• 37 times more likely for obese persons.
• 100 times more likely for severely obese adults.
• 27% of women report employment discrimination.
• 43% of overweight people report weight bias from employers and supervisors.
• Some companies are planning to regularly charge overweight employees unless they meet standards for weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure

Consequences to Overweight people:

• Earn 1-6% less than non-overweight people in comparable positions
• Women also face gender disparity, getting fewer promotions
• May be viewed as underachievers by employers and co-workers
• 54% of report they had been stigmatized by co-workers
• Face dismissal or suspension because of their weight, despite good performance and weight being unrelated to responsibilities
• May be penalized for weight, through company benefits programs
• May not be hired
• May be the target of derogatory comments/jokes by employers and co-workers

(Puhl et al 2008)