Employers shunning overweight workers

[kebaldwin]

Employers shunning overweight workers
The sale of clothing for women – sizes 14 and up – is growing by leaps and bounds. That’s because 40 percent of American women are in the plus size range and that number is growing. It’s not a good sign for the health of the country, but it means good news for clothing manufacturers, which are designing more choices larger women. Only 20 percent of clothing sold these days is “women’s sizes,” according to the Wall Street Journal. Most likely that is because the clothing is very dowdy and old-fashioned. But with more choices, prices are expected to go up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The downside to this story is that heavy people are having a hard time in the workplace. According to USA Today, employers may be turning down overweight workers because they cost so much more in healthcare costs. A worker who weighs 30 pounds over a healthy weight costs a company about 50 percent more than a worker of healthy weight. Also, men who are overweight miss two-thirds more days of work each year than men of normal weight. For women, it’s 50 percent more missed time. Clark would like companies to emphasize healthy eating and fitness programs instead of canning overweight people. Gyms at work are also a great idea.

http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2005/12/30/

[Nancy LC]

Well, they're not going to have many skinny folks to choose from if the trend continues. :)

[kyrasdad]

I wonder how real those statistics are. They don't reflect reality in the case of me, or most people I know.

I have NO doubt that fat are filtered out of many jobs and chances at jobs due to concerns about health, but I honestly think it comes down to something more basic: people like to work with attractive people. If they think a fat person is not, they will hire someone else if it all possible. The reason that fat people earn less and don't have as easy of a time getting jobs is not just one thing, it is a mix of them.

[Indianagrl]

The office I worked at for the past eight years just closed so I have been looking for employment and it is a big change finding a job at this weight. when I was looking for a job eight years ago and more than 100lbs lighter I had several job offers to choose from. I went to an interveiw at a company where a relative works they told me what rate of pay & benefits that position offered over the phone when they were setting up an interveiw then I went to the interveiw then I got a call to come back for 2nd interveiw where they offered me the position but without benefits or I would have to take a large cut in pay. I turned down the job offer & talked to the relative that works there and she had never heard of them doing that.
So more reason to get this weight off and keep it off, being overweight affects every part of my life. Time to stop this terrible cycle.

[kebaldwin]

This is one of the main reasons for me getting healthy.

Middle aged, tight job market.

The good news is that most of the "young bucks" have been eating high glycemic foods and have many classic symptoms -- which means I am more active and healthy than they are.

I get to work before them and work harder -- thanks to Atkins diet.

[kyrasdad]

Me too, Kebaldwin. I have not changed jobs since going low carb, but have received raises during the time. On one of them, the largest one, it was because another company looked me up and gave me an offer. I have no doubt that the offer wouldn't have been there or the offer would have been lower, had I been 100 pounds heavier.

Why do they not hire the fat, or pay them less? My opinions:

* Concerns about health

* Desire to work with attractive people, especially in customer contact jobs, but also in general,

* General disrespect, bigotry, and contempt for the fat,

* Belief that anyone who "lets themself go" is going to be an unproductive worker

And a whole lot of subcategories.