Friday, August 01, 2008

Fat Discrimination at Work

A friend of mine told me about a conversation he overheard between two managers at his work last week. They were discussing the hiring of a new staff member and said that although the candidate was qualified and seemed like a good job match, they didn't want to hire him because of he was overweight. They assumed he would be lazy because he was overweight and instead of hiring the qualified applicant they instead decided to re-advertise the position and look for someone else.

It sounds outrageous and unbelievable, but I had a similar situation myself when I was at my heaviest weight of 128.5 kilos. I applied for my dream job at my dream company, and I was asked in for two extensive interviews. They rang all of my referees and from all accounts they seemed to like me. They then rang me to tell me that I didn't get the job and had decided to go with another candidate. I was really disappointed but thought it seemed fair enough, obviously there was someone more qualified then me.

It wasn't until a week later that one of my referees called me because she wanted to tell me about the call she had from my potential employer. They had asked her about my weight and if it would affect me in the job. Keep in mind this was for your typical desk job and didn't require any physical work. They apparently went on to ask her further questions about my weight and said they were concerned by how it would affect me in the job role. My referee thought I should know and in a way I am glad that she told me.

I was humiliated and felt like I didn't deserve a good job. I was so down about the situation that I stopped applying for my dream job and instead got myself a job in a mindless call centre (at a much hated company) where I was abused by customers all day. In my mind, I felt that this was the kind of job I deserved and I didn't feel like I could or should get anything better.

I have people try to tell me that there isn't such thing as fat discrimination and that it is all in my head. They say that people will treat you how you ask to be treated or that it is just a matter of confidence. This is true in some cases, but not always. I have too many examples to even get into the amount of times I have been treated like either a total moron or a sloth because people assume I am fat and stupid or fat and lazy. Further to this there are many other times where I have been openly ridiculed and abused or completely ignored because of my weight.

I now have a great job where I am judged by my abilities rather then my appearance, but yet I still struggle day to day to believe that I deserve this job. It is important to me that I am always first at work and last to leave and that I rarely take breaks. I guess in a way I feel that I have to prove to myself and my colleagues that, while I am fat, I am not stupid and lazy.

18 comments:

  1. Wrong... that is so totally wrong.. But I totally believe that it happens..

    I once had a boss that refuse to hire someone cos they didn't walk fast enough.... ??????

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  2. That really sucks. It's one of those situations where you later think you should have taken it further (well I'd think that) but at the time just is so undermining.

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  3. happens more often than we think unfortunately. Up until recently, it was perfectly legal for employers to ask for a picture along with a resume...

    Now with that eliminated, they can still make up excuses come interview time. What a sad world we live in.

    You shouldn't feel that you have to prove anything. I'm sure you're a fantastic worker and are nothing but an asset to the company =)

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  4. I'm having a hard time getting my head around people that would actually do this.

    Is it an image thing? Are you the 'face' of their business? This is shocking.

    I don't know what else to say.

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  5. I too have come across this sort of discrimination, and yes, it does eat into your self confidence. Fat does not equal LAZY... that just pisses me off big time.

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  6. that totally sux but I can quite believe it happens.

    I have been so fortunate to have had great jobs but in the past year I have been in limbo as I moved out of Auckland and have been working as a substitute teacher for most of this year. I am reasonably confident that if a full time position came up in the school where I work I would be able to secure the job BUT I don't think I would be too confident in fronting up at an interview as an 'unknown' as I may very well be judged.

    I guess another reason why its important to lose this weight of mine. I WILL need a full time job so need to get some serious weight off.

    In regards to you though you gorgeous woman (in a non lessy way of course) you have done so well with your weight loss that I doubt anyone would do a double take if they saw you for the first time, as you would just fit in with the normal size people. (you know, when a person see's someone really large walking past and they are actually rude enough to walk past then turn so they can continue seeing how large they really are for a second time).

    I caught a woman doing this to me in a mall once. I walked past and she probably didn't realise, but I was profoundly aware that she was staring at me as I was walking towards her. I walked on past, then swung around, and sure enough she had continued walking, but had actually turned around to get another look. (how rude)

    Anyway, enough of my waffle.
    Have a great day.

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  7. that totally sux but I can quite believe it happens.

    I have been so fortunate to have had great jobs but in the past year I have been in limbo as I moved out of Auckland and have been working as a substitute teacher for most of this year. I am reasonably confident that if a full time position came up in the school where I work I would be able to secure the job BUT I don't think I would be too confident in fronting up at an interview as an 'unknown' as I may very well be judged.

    I guess another reason why its important to lose this weight of mine. I WILL need a full time job so need to get some serious weight off.

    In regards to you though you gorgeous woman (in a non lessy way of course) you have done so well with your weight loss that I doubt anyone would do a double take if they saw you for the first time, as you would just fit in with the normal size people. (you know, when a person see's someone really large walking past and they are actually rude enough to walk past then turn so they can continue seeing how large they really are for a second time).

    I caught a woman doing this to me in a mall once. I walked past and she probably didn't realise, but I was profoundly aware that she was staring at me as I was walking towards her. I walked on past, then swung around, and sure enough she had continued walking, but had actually turned around to get another look. (how rude)

    Anyway, enough of my waffle.
    Have a great day.

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  8. Hey! I just wanted to say that I am so glad I stumbled onto your blog. I have been having the hardest time finding a job. I just mentioned it in a blog the other day and I started to think it was me... that I was causing people to treat me differently, but I know that I am not. Thanks for such a great blog!

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  9. Aha! My boss keeps hiring good looking thin women. It was ok at first, but is now a little obvious - 12 teachers in the school and 5 of them are hot, thin chicks between the ages of 20 and thirty!?! I am almost honoured that he gave me the time of day on my reputation alone!!!

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  10. That's a horrid story ... both stories are horrid! Ignorance fuels such destructive behaviour.

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  11. It is ridiculous that things like that happen, especially for jobs that have no physical requirements at all. Its so annoying that overweight people are discriminated against when applying for jobs and often are even paid less for their work. Ridiculous.

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  12. I just came across your blog, and this entry really struck a chord. I've lately been opening my eyes to how pervasive fat prejudice is (and of course have experienced much of it.) There IS a huge denial that it exists!!

    Glad I found your site!

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  13. Bloody hell, that is wrong on so many levels - and how much of your time are you giving up so that your colleagues won't perceive you as lazy?! It's ridiculous :-(

    It does happen more than we think, and fat prejudice is one of those things where we tend to think we don't have a leg to stand on and we deserve the treatment we get. That's bollocks. You were treated wrongly, and your weight had no impact on your job - that company were wrong in asking your referee those questions and I would've liked to have seen their sorry asses dragged to the Human Rights Commission.

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  14. While I agree with everyone that is a load of bollocks, I am also going to say. It is totally true. I know applicants that have not been hired for roles based solely on their looks, not just weight, but facial appearance, clothing style the list is endless. Having red hair!!

    And I know as an overweight person, that when people try and tell you that 'fatism' or whatever you call it doesnt exist. I know it does. Because even though I am overweight and was much bigger previously, I know I used to make those judgements on larger people. Even myself. Because i was lazy at times. So I would assume that everyone else was. I am not so closed minded now, but I know it does exist, and I know how other people perceive those who are overweight.

    Anyway, I know how shit you must have felt at the time. And not much we can say otherwise. But your a fantastic chick and really dont let others insecurities get you down xx

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  15. Wow....I'm stunned. It's one thing to wonder if being overweight can hold you back career-wise but totally mindblowing that it actually did! I'm so sorry that happened to you. Apparently they weren't the dream company that they should have been!

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  16. Hi - I just stumbled on your blog and love the photo post showing all the eating!! Quite telling isn't it. Very interesting.

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  17. Your comment about working in the call center really hit home with me. In fact, I believe TODAY is my 10th anniversary of working in a crappy call center. Sad. And embarassing. Sigh.

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Awww thanks so much for the comment!