I think it's fair to say that for most jobs out there, weight is not a factor in whether or not you can perform your job-as long as its not a physical job. Some jobs require you to be a lower weight because they are dependent on your physical appearance, for instance modeling or acting.
But when a job depends on neither being physically in shape or appearing a certain way, people are generally appalled when a story comes out about how employers have asked employees to lose weight for their jobs.
Today, AOL posted a story about 28 flight attendants that were told by their employer that they have six months to lose weight or else they will be faced with a reassignment.The employers even went as far as to put the employees on UNPAID LEAVE while the employees are expected to lose weight!
This is not shocking news, though, to the employees, as they have been previously warned about losing weight. It also doesn't only apply to the female employees as the male employees were also asked to lose weight. The amount of weight each employee was asked to lose also varies.
Judging by the fact that 28 employees were asked to lose weight, I feel that it is not necessary for the employees' job functions to be a smaller weight, making this sound like its mostly about appearances. And personally, I think it's out of line to ask your employees to lose weight so that you can have better looking employees.
What do YOU think? Do employers have the right to ask their employees to lose weight as part of their job if it isn't necessary for their job functions?
Here is the link to the article, in case you missed it: http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/08/09/turkish-airlines-tells-flight-crew-to-lose-weight/
posted @ Monday, August 09, 2010 7:27 PM