Trouble in Paradise
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Weight as a hiring criteria
I thought only strippers and old-school air-line stewardesses had to worry about that type of thing.
http://www.houstonianonline.com/viewpoints/why-citizens-medical-center-is-within-their-right-to-deny-obese-employees-1.2725254#.T4BDivUmySo
[clicky]
FWIW, I disagree with making weight a criteria to be hired. Slippery slope and all that-- what's next? They only want blonde hair and blue eyes?
PS- post and run-- taking Abby to the wildflower park today for some Easter Pictures!
Re: Weight as a hiring criteria
those are what I want to see!
But as far as the article. I understand the point of wanting, their staff to be healthy and stuff like that, but I don't think that just because someone has a high BMI and is obese means they can't do the job required of them. Apparently my BMI is a 38, but the fact that I'm clinically obese doesn't make me unable to lift and move over 600 lbs of cakes, powdered sugar, and other supplies on a daily basis. I am more than aware that I need to lose a good deal of weight. But it doesn't make me unable to take care of what I need to. I would think it would be more fair, if they had a requirement, that if you have a BMI of 35 or over, that you would need to prove your ability to perform the job, before getting hired.
Obesity is the number one most costly preventable health issue in the US. It costs companies billions more in health insurance premiums because people who are obese are so much more likely to have diabetes, heart problems, need joint replacement, etc. Statistically, obese people miss more days of work, thereby costing their employers productivity dollars and requiring other employees to take on their duties.
All that said, I don't think it's fair to discriminate based on obesity. I agree with the PP that said this is a slippery slope. Instead, I believe that employer-sponsored wellness programs are the way to go - stocking healthier food in vending machines, providing free water and gifting or encouraging employees to use refillable bottles, sponsoring "Biggest Loser" style competitions, rewarding employees who track their healthy eating and exercise, these are all reasonable ways to combat obesity that don't involve discrimination in the hiring process.
My father was obese for several years because of the drugs he had to take while awaiting an organ transplant. The disease that made him need that transplant can strike anybody, is not related to lifestyle, and was acquired through no fault of his own. I am pretty sure he got canned from at least one job because he was the 400 pound elephant in the room. Like he needed life to sh*t on him again?
So, yes, while obesity isn't befitting the image of a medical center, you never know why somebody is obese. How much does the reason even matter? Incentives to live healthy lifestyles, like gym discounts, are great, but anything beyond that usually falls into the sh*tty move category. Unless the job is chimney sweep or horse hockey or something else like that where size is related directly to ability to succeed in the job, it just shouldn't be done.
We have health requirements at my employer. If you meet the requirements you pay 5% of the insurance premiums. If you don't, you pay 20%. I find that better than just flat-out not hiring people.
We're measured on tobacco use (no drug testing though, so it still smells like weed around here), blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, waist circumference and BMI. They'll bypass a high BMI if you are within the healthy range for the other limits. I can post the limits if anyone is curious.
http://pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi#general
I am sorry that your dad was ill, but you must know that this is the exception to the rule. Only 1% of obesity is caused by a medical condition like hypothyroidism, and the percent caused by prescription drugs is also small. I'm curious about something though...your dad must have already been overweight when he started the medication, right? I don't think there are too many drugs that cause 200+ pound weight gain.
Also, I think you're missing the point of using obesity as a hiring point. It's not that the obese individual can't do their job, it's that they will cost the company more money just because they are overweight. Especially in this job market, it's likely there are equally qualified individuals who won't bring along the burden of that expense with them.
Again, not saying I agree. Just saying I don't think you get the point.