Russell Williams
Well-Known Member
Americas TV boss Donald Trump, who has been in a war of words with Rosie ODonnell, told Entertainment Tonight recently that: If I were running 'The View," Id fire Rosie. Id look her right in that fat ugly face of hers and say, Rosie, you're fired.
Lets say Trump was indeed Rosies boss and phrased his firing just like that, could he be charged with workplace discrimination? If he had said, Id look her right in that Asian ugly face or black ugly face the answer would be a no-brainer.
But when it comes to obesity discrimination, the rotund among us have few if any rights when it comes to being hired, fired or promoted.
Obese men and women can expect to earn on average anywhere from 1 to 6 percent less than normal weight employees, with heavy women being the biggest losers when it comes to their paychecks, according to a study by Tennessee State University economists Charles Baum and William Ford.
Given all this doom and gloom, what should the overweight do?
If theres any truth to strength in numbers, the growing number of bigger Americans might have to make their voices heard by politicians.
Today the only state that bans discrimination based on weight is Michigan. That law, on the books in that state since 1977, has seldom been used but appears to be getting dusted off lately by overweight workers that believe they were given the shaft because of their weight.
For anyone who lives outside Michigan, the only recourse is going to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and seeking help under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dont expect a lot. Simply being overweight generally does not qualify as a disability.
Another issue to keep in mind, and Im not blaming the victim here, is that maybe your own low self-esteem may be hurting your chances when applying for a new job or a promotion.
In a study by John Cawley, an associate professor in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University, he found that obese white women had worse labor market outcomes than any other overweight workers.
The obesity penalty for wages was much greater for white than black females, he notes. He pointed out that research has shown that obesity tended to lower the self-esteem of white women much more than black women. That could end up affecting your work potentially, he speculates.
Indeed, Ann, a white mortgage worker from New York who declined to use her full name, says that after more than a decade with her firm she has been passed over for promotions constantly, and her weight might not be the only issue.
My real problem is not accepting myself," she said. "Maybe thats what they see ... a very insecure person.
People who are overweight often share the bias of weight against them, says Martha Beck, a life coach and author of "The Four Day Win: End Your Diet War and Achieve Thinner Peace." So that means getting yourself to a place where you accept that youre OK whether you lose the weight or not
Lets say Trump was indeed Rosies boss and phrased his firing just like that, could he be charged with workplace discrimination? If he had said, Id look her right in that Asian ugly face or black ugly face the answer would be a no-brainer.
But when it comes to obesity discrimination, the rotund among us have few if any rights when it comes to being hired, fired or promoted.
Obese men and women can expect to earn on average anywhere from 1 to 6 percent less than normal weight employees, with heavy women being the biggest losers when it comes to their paychecks, according to a study by Tennessee State University economists Charles Baum and William Ford.
Given all this doom and gloom, what should the overweight do?
If theres any truth to strength in numbers, the growing number of bigger Americans might have to make their voices heard by politicians.
Today the only state that bans discrimination based on weight is Michigan. That law, on the books in that state since 1977, has seldom been used but appears to be getting dusted off lately by overweight workers that believe they were given the shaft because of their weight.
For anyone who lives outside Michigan, the only recourse is going to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and seeking help under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dont expect a lot. Simply being overweight generally does not qualify as a disability.
Another issue to keep in mind, and Im not blaming the victim here, is that maybe your own low self-esteem may be hurting your chances when applying for a new job or a promotion.
In a study by John Cawley, an associate professor in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University, he found that obese white women had worse labor market outcomes than any other overweight workers.
The obesity penalty for wages was much greater for white than black females, he notes. He pointed out that research has shown that obesity tended to lower the self-esteem of white women much more than black women. That could end up affecting your work potentially, he speculates.
Indeed, Ann, a white mortgage worker from New York who declined to use her full name, says that after more than a decade with her firm she has been passed over for promotions constantly, and her weight might not be the only issue.
My real problem is not accepting myself," she said. "Maybe thats what they see ... a very insecure person.
People who are overweight often share the bias of weight against them, says Martha Beck, a life coach and author of "The Four Day Win: End Your Diet War and Achieve Thinner Peace." So that means getting yourself to a place where you accept that youre OK whether you lose the weight or not
