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AIBU?

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Original poster

To agree that employers don't want fat employees

135 replies

Moti · 03/05/2012 21:47

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2138551/Get-job-size-Fat-chance-After-160-interviews-job-offer-Louisa-says-CV-s-letting--curves.html

Sorry, it's from the DM. But doesn't the woman have a point? She would stand a better chance of getting a job if she lost weight. I was made redundant and claimed JSA for a few weeks before getting a temping job, I noticed that a lot of the people claiming JSA were fat.

OP posts:
Morloth · 04/05/2012 04:08

Yeah, I wouldn't immediately discount someone because of what they were wearing, but the whole point of a face to face interview is to see the person and see whether they fit.

Also if you had said, I can make that interview however I will be coming from work and therefore dressed appropriately for there then that is just fine. What is appropriate varies obviously.

I don't go to DS's soccer games in my suits, I go in jeans and trainers. Same applies in reverse. If I am interviewing for a corporate position someone turning up in jeans and trainers is immediately at a disadvantage. Because sometimes how a company looks is important to their business as well.

AdoraBell · 04/05/2012 05:12

In the picture she looks aggressive, in a wounded defensive kind of way, if she's feeling that it may well come across as aggressive.

I used to have a friend who was "Persecuted" because of her weight, took her ages to get a job teaching young children. Then parents started complaining about her aggressive approach in the classroom. Even after she lost a shed load of weight the parents still weren't happy.

Could be in the current climate the recruiting officers don't have to put up with candidates who they feel may make the staff uncomfortable. Could also be that there are thousands of people trying to get work in the UK and she's been unlucky.

Alligatorpie · 04/05/2012 06:03

I think she isn't getting work as she has sat around for 2 years. Why isn't she doing volunteer work, or freelancing, self employment... Or something! Employers don't like to see a large gap on a cv, she needs to do something, to fill in that time!

echt · 04/05/2012 06:45

The woman looks bad because the DM will only show photos which make her look that way.

Clingy orange dress
VPL
Fat leaning onto kitchen counter
Glum face

She let herself look like this, and the DM took her for for a ride. I wonder if she has a follow-up article for when she loses the pounds, gets a job, and starts wearing clothes that suit her.

How the Daily Mail hates women.

SamuelWestsMistress · 04/05/2012 07:49

The Daily Mail will have made her up because there is nothing they like more than fat bashing. They loves it! Claire from Steps must be on holiday this week or something.

belgo · 04/05/2012 07:53

I think that some very overweight people do find it hard to get a job. There is a lot of prejudice against fat people in our society.

Having said that, the woman featured in the article is very attractive and not obese. She is not much bigger then the average british woman.

SydSaid · 04/05/2012 08:15

I'm fat and I've never had a problem getting a job. I've been offered the majority of the ones I've been interviewed for. I'm not sure that it's the weight that's the issue.

SydSaid · 04/05/2012 08:18

And Belgo - she is obese. I think you are co fusing 'obese' with 'morbidly obese'. I am obese, according to the figures, and I am lighter and slimmer than she is.

catgirl1976 · 04/05/2012 08:22

My workplace has an unwritten rule on this.

belgo · 04/05/2012 08:22

SydSaid yes you are probably right, she is obese, but she isn't much bigger then so many women.

belgo · 04/05/2012 08:22

catgirl - and what is that?

merrymouse · 04/05/2012 08:23

To my shame, I saw that article on line. There was also an article about how women go on maternity leave because they can't hack it at work. Just the usual DM rubbish.

I have no idea why this particular woman isn't working, or even if the story is true, but I hope she was paid well.

catgirl1976 · 04/05/2012 08:25

Belgo - that you don't have to be thin to work there but we don't have anyone over a size 14 (and at that size its touch and go)

Women only of course. We have some morbidly obese men and that fine

stabiliser15 · 04/05/2012 08:29

I am very fat and I think that fatness can sometimes make a very negative first impression. I think that fat people have to work harder to overturn that, but it is not impossible.

2rebecca · 04/05/2012 08:33

I don't see how she can have thought posing with that expression would enhance her career prospects. Suspect she'll deeply regret this as she now comes across as someone who'll complain to the papers if she doesn't get a job she wants.
I agree her comments on the CV sound naive as well and to be not understanding that if alot of people have similar CVs you go for the person you think will get on with everyone else and interviews are as much about seeing what sort of person you are as about what you can do.

Bonsoir · 04/05/2012 08:34

catgirl1976 - and your company is not alone with that unwritten rule.

catgirl1976 · 04/05/2012 08:36

We are a Times Top 100 Employer too!

I am currently over limit having given birth 5 months ago and there have been a lot of "jokey" comments about my leeway running out and e-mails on the Dukan Diet etc.

I also wasn't allowed to see clients when pg as it looked unprofessional :)

alphabite · 04/05/2012 08:37

I am very overweight and got a new job fairly recently. I do lots of work with the public so my appearance should be important but they obviously thought I was the best person for the job.

Morloth · 04/05/2012 08:40

They are on some pretty shakey legal ground their catgirl. If someone told me I couldn't a meeting when pregnant all hell would have broken loose and I quite possibly wouldn't have a mortgage right now by the time I was done with them.

Bonsoir · 04/05/2012 08:42

Obviously with customer facing roles there is a need for staff to meet potential customers' expectations and there really isn't much you can do to alter those expectations in the short term.

DSS1 asked DP whether he couldn't work in one of DP's shops this summer to earn some money. Much as DP is keen to help DSS1 along with his CV, he did have to point out to him that a 17 year old boy with acne wasn't going to be particularly useful selling face cream to 35+ women. DSS1 suggested he go topless (he has a lovely six pack, and also very nice hair) but DP said that wasn't company policy either.

belgo · 04/05/2012 08:52

Bonsoir - how incredibly sad that your dp wouldn't give his own son a holiday job due to acne Sad.

Bonsoir · 04/05/2012 09:00

belgo - it's not sad, it's commercial reality! Why would you put off your customers? It's business, not charity, and it's important to know the difference from an early age.

belgo · 04/05/2012 09:06

It may be business reality but it is still incredibly sad.

fascicle · 04/05/2012 09:06

I am sure she has a point. Article by Susie Orbach in the Guardian, on same subject, also following Manchester Uni research:

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/may/03/fat-prejudice-issue

I think we do live in a very 'fattist' society. I am sure workplaces aren't an exception.

catgirl1976 · 04/05/2012 09:07

As well as the "fat" thing - we only employ young, thin, very attractive girls on the reception.

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