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.

Depends if they are physically capable of doing the job. Obese is a very broad category, it ranges from “just slightly more than overweight” to “hardly able to walk”. If they were capable I’d consider them. Although my understanding is that legally an employer cannot refuse a job because someone is not physically capable - they would be required to make adjustments, not refuse to employ the person on that basis.

If I thought they could do the job, yes, if I had doubts, then no.

Not rocket science is it?

For me, experience from 10 years ago wouldn't be current enough, unless they've done additional personal development or relevant volunteering in the meantime. Only you know whether the job could be done by someone who is obese; but you could use a probation period to assess that with them.

Although my understanding is that legally an employer cannot refuse a job because someone is not physically capable - they would be required to make adjustments, not refuse to employ the person on that basis

Of course they can.

My SIl is obese but does a very physical job well.

I might.........it would depend on who else applied. The lack of recent experience would be a concern but attitude and how you would fit into the team are also important!

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.

I was a volunteer cook for a charity. One of the places we cooked at was a galley kitchen. One famous weekend, celebrity chefs were visiting several of our venues to help out and for publicity stories for newspapers. The one assigned to the galley kitchen had to stand outside the kitchen door as he couldn't fit into the kitchen.

It really depends. Are there other applicants that are really interested? Lack of experience and lack of physical fitness means the enthusiasm for a physical job could go away pretty soon. Experience from 10 years ago is irrelevant now for many jobs, so I would disregard that as experience.
In summary, it depends on the other candidates!

offer any support you can think of, they come up with - like easy access to water and non junk food throughout the day.

Because fatties only drink blended lard and eat McDonalds at each meal.

An employer should get select the best candidate for the role.

There's no one at all with more current experience, better suited for the role, and as enthusiastic?

I would probably change the role for a temporary contract if I couldn't find anyone else. It's easy to offer a perm role later, the candidate is free to take it or leave it.

That OP sounds like a reverse btw.

offer any support you can think of, they come up with - like easy access to water and non junk food throughout the day.
no, you really cannot do that nowadays 😂

Thanks for all the replies, you've given me a lot to think about.
Yes I am the potential applicant.

Then go for it! Don't let it be the elephant in the room!

You don't have to spend a lot of time on it, just a sentence that shows you are not oblivious to the possible issues, and then move on to your other doubtless wonderful attributes

I'm skinny. Can't do physical jobs as I have terrible upper body strength and previously slipped discs.
You sound like a good applicant to me.
Good luck.

@thecatandthevicar

That OP sounds like a reverse btw.

offer any support you can think of, they come up with - like easy access to water and non junk food throughout the day.
no, you really cannot do that nowadays 😂

You can't offer easy access to food and drink in a workplace?

Most office and factory spaces I go into these days have water coolers and quite a few have free fruit!

Or have I misunderstood something?

Perhaps have a 2 week trial? See if that person is up to the job. If it were up to me I wouldnt employ an obese person for a physical job, because that just logic.

You can't offer easy access to food and drink in a workplace?

Most office and factory spaces I go into these days have water coolers and quite a few have free fruit!

Or have I misunderstood something?

of course you do that, but NOT because you are employing someone who is obese! You don't change the snack supplies because of a new employee 😂

Do you want to start some discrimination fight or something?

It really does depend on the job and how big the person is. If its a repair engineer for example who has to squeeze into tight spaces then in might not be physically possible.

On the other hand I had a job in a hardware store where I was mostly the only person on the paint section and some of those tubs hold 20 litres and weigh up to 55lbs. You could get up to 70 tubs per pallet to put away. I would have to stand on ladders or a cherry picker and lift them high over my head on and off the top shelves. I am a size 18 to 20 and could swing these around like they were nothing. Fat doesn't mean that there isn't a lot of muscle under there.

If you feel you can do the job then absolutely apply. The lack of experience might be a problem as jobs are in such short supply at the moment, so do try to think of something recent that's relevant even if not officially employed.

For what it's worth, my BMI is about 35 but I could easily do a physical job without my body causing problems - I can run and cycle, walk for miles, lift heavy objects no problem. I would struggle to climb into a small space, but that would be the case at a far lower weight than I'm at now thanks to my massive boobs :D

Definitely. You should go for it. Desire to succeed in any job is half the battle. If you have that and demonstrate it at interview, I'd hire you.

You wouldn't believe how many people interview with a tardy and lethargic attitude.

You don't change the snack supplies because of a new employee Oh! I See! I wrote that very badly, didn't I.

My error! I sit corrected. It's been a while since this was part of my job! What was acceptable as a conversation about adjustments for an individual is deemed to be discriminatory nowadays. Good job it isn't my job any more, I'd cause a bloody riot!

I'm fairly lardy, technically overweight rather than obese on the BMI scale. That said I reckon I have a lot of stamina; I walk for miles everyday and am always shifting heavy loads ( live rurally and use a lot of windfall as firewood so chainsaw into rounds and carry home with the wheelbarrow).

I have an interview as a postie coming up I'm hoping they see beyond my chubby exterior!

Does the job not have a person spec? If the applicant can address the person spec - and provide evidence that they can - then of course they should be considered. If they can't then no.

@Ted27

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)

Pulling someone up and have pre conceived ideas about an "overweight" "obese" person is wrong

Also referring to people as "skinny friends is just as offensive and you should be aware if how you language affects people.
Unless they are struggling with an eating disorder they are most likely just slim.

Skinny shaming is just as rude as fat shaming

So many factors.
Its dependant on exactly what the role is - for some jobs 10 year old experience would be fine - and likewise for others it would be considered well out of date. For instance I haven't programmed anything for nearly 20 years - my programming experience therefore is of little use to anyone. However I can touch type however many wpm. That skill is still relevant to a job where I need to type fast.

Also how obese. and how fit? I'm obese and have been for a decade. The difference is about 4 years ago I was obese, but doing HIIT sessions 4 times a week, plus jogging, so I was fit, and I was strong. I could have easily done a physical role. I now have medical problems so I struggle with getting from a to b. I'm not fit and a physical job would knacker me out.
Only you know if you could cope, so you need to make that obvious at interview, as they won't know you're obese until they see you.