Would you employ this person?

[DissociativeBitch]

Negatives:
The job is pretty physical and the applicant is obese.
The applicant also does have experience but it's from 10 years ago.

Positives:
The applicant is very enthusiastic about the job and building a career in this job and has proven record of steady employment.

I think there is a certain amount of relativity to job applications. How is this person compared to other applicants? If they tick more boxes, then yes, I would employ them.

Cultural fit is super important as well.

Are you the person?

Wow, obese people can’t do physical jobs?

I wouldn’t offer them the job, they deserve a better employer.

If I were otherwise happy then yes of course.

Are you the person? As a pp said, it depends. If they were the best person for the job who applied, then yes. If someone with recent experience applied, perhaps not.

If the person can do the job and are the best applicant then yes

The lack of recent experience is screaming out at me as a problem. In the current job market, employers are really splitting hairs over why to reject people and that would be a major thing I reckon.

YABU for making assumptions about the persons capacity for physical work based on their size.

How obese? You'd be surprised at how much stamina some obese people have, fat doesn't always mean lazy. Rugby players can be obese for example if you use BMI.

Generally I would say that enthusiasm and desire to build a career go a hell of a long way in making someone a good employee. I'd rather have someone with 80% of the capability and 100% of the effort rather than the other way around. With someone who tries hard you can usually find them a place.

I think lack of recent experience would be the main issue here. As for obesity, much would depend on age.

Depends how they compared to other applicants, but probably not, because of lack of recent experience rather than any concerns with their fitness.

Could you offer them a paid trial week so you can find out if the have the stamina (and will actually turn up the next day) and find out that way?

I refuse to believe someone’s obesity is the only factor at play here.

The job market is absolutely saturated at the moment, it’s an employer’s market.

I’m recruiting for an entry level position. The amount of applicants with Masters degrees is insane.

It’s much more likely that this person would be overlooked on the basis of their (lack of) experience rather than their obesity.

If they can do the job then yes

Speaking as a fat/ obese person who walks at least 8 miles a day and is currently building pathways and raised beds on my allotment, I often find I can achieve more ‘physical ‘ jobs than my skinny friends who have little or no muscle (apart from one who is both very petite and freakishly strong)

Depends on the other applicants. If they are the best person for the job then I wouldn't not employ them just because they're obese. Surely they know the level of fitness required for the job and so can make their own decision about that?

There isn't enough context to say.

How physical is the work and how is the person's fitness? If they get out of breath climbing the stairs they'd probably struggle to brick lay but might manage fine packing boxes or serving drinks.

Are you thinking of applying? If so I’d say go for it, nothing to lose. Does the steady employment have transferable skills?

if there aren't any other suitable candidates, then yes

A lot of people will have become obese in lockdown but will slim down with a decent lifestyle so that alone wouldn't put me off

Not enough info to decide.

Wow, obese people can’t do physical jobs?

Depending on the job, no they can't and yes they can. I couldn't fit into certain places to do my job if I was obese.

@BigPaperBag

The lack of recent experience is screaming out at me as a problem. In the current job market, employers are really splitting hairs over why to reject people and that would be a major thing I reckon.

I was thinking this. That might be an issue.

As for being obese...rugby players tend to have a BMI that puts them in the obese category, so it's not an overly accurate measure in that sense.

Yes.
And no.
If they were the best candidate for the job, yes.
I can’t think of any reason why not to?

If you are the would be employer - be up front, discuss it with them, offer any support you can think of, they come up with - like easy access to water and non junk food throughout the day.

Consider any uniform you may have. If they are a bad fit offer to pay for a seamstress to make them fit, other cloting to be worn in the interim.

All sorts of other stuff, I could dig out my old notes if you want, but it would be a positive healthy living/employee health thing if handled correctly. Maybe open up a smething across all employees now lockdown is coming to a close.

If you are the wannabe employee - mention it when you are asked what you will bring to the job. Current weight an issue but the job a good incentive and opportunity to tackle it. Not an issue in the long term

Best of luck whichever you are

If they're the best person for the job, and the post needs filling, then of course.
There will be a probation period.