Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Colleague bringing scales to office - weighing others.

389 replies

SFG112112 · 23/03/2023 11:17

I work in an office with around 20 other people. A colleague has started bringing in scales so that he and others can weigh themselves in front of others.

Everyone stands in a circle around the scales and watches while they take it in turns to weigh themselves.

So far I have managed to avoid being asked to weigh myself in front of the others, perhaps because I am overweight.

Management don't seem bothered and are even joining in with the weighing.

Not really sure why posting, just wanted to hear what others think.

OP posts:
SunshineGeorgie · 23/03/2023 11:18

We did that in my last workplace

Join in or don't?

ConfusedNT · 23/03/2023 11:19

That's not on, if they want to do it they should go somewhere private not out in the office in front of everyone. That could be incredibly triggering for anyone who has or has had an eating disorder

It's also unprofessional it's work not weight watchers

ferneytorro · 23/03/2023 11:20

To what end? Are they on a health kick and want to track progress ? Your post infers they are just doing it as a thing to do which is odd behaviour.

ferneytorro · 23/03/2023 11:21

But do they only weigh thinner people? I’m intrigued.

Original poster
SFG112112 · 23/03/2023 11:22

ferneytorro · 23/03/2023 11:20

To what end? Are they on a health kick and want to track progress ? Your post infers they are just doing it as a thing to do which is odd behaviour.

Just a thing to do.

OP posts:
Kranke · 23/03/2023 11:22

Sounds like they’re doing their own version of slimming world. Just let them crack on, I don’t see the harm?

Dotjones · 23/03/2023 11:22

If they're doing it because a group of them are collectively trying to improve their health that's one thing, but the line in the sand is whether they're trying to coerce/bully/"encourage" other people to join in.

If a minority of people are doing it and there are no comments or invitations to other people to join in it's OK. If they invite you, that's not. If everyone does it except you, that's not OK other, it's indirect bullying.

KvotheTheBloodless · 23/03/2023 11:22

We had this once at an office I worked at, a few folk were trying to lose weight so used it as a kind of office-based slimming club.

I had anorexia when I was younger, so obviously didn't participate, but luckily there was no pressure to join in. I can see how some people might've found it very stressful or anxiety-inducing though.

Your colleagues sound thoughtless, you could ask them to do it somewhere private if they want to continue?

SummaLuvin · 23/03/2023 11:22

I find it a little weird. But if they are just a group of colleagues on a fitness kick trying to lose weight and clubbing together a moral support it's fine, providing they are not pressuring others to join in.

SunshineGeorgie · 23/03/2023 11:23

There's no harm

Triggering ffs!

TheCentreSlide · 23/03/2023 11:23

Bizarre!

ConfusedNT · 23/03/2023 11:24

SunshineGeorgie · 23/03/2023 11:23

There's no harm

Triggering ffs!

Tell me you don't understand an eating disorder without telling me you don't understand an eating disorder...

RoseBucket · 23/03/2023 11:24

It’s very strange but actually the competitive side of me would kick in and it would be the kick I’d use to lose weight so I’d join in.

EggInANest · 23/03/2023 11:24

Presumably it’s a mutually consensual thing amongst those who are fitness enthusiasts / supporting each other in a weightloss programme? I hope they are not demanding that anyone else get weighed?

They shouldn’t be doing this in a shared work space, though. Are any managers involved?

Tinypetunia · 23/03/2023 11:24

It sounds a bit odd, but as long as they're not pressuring anyone to join in, I don't see the harm.

CountZacular · 23/03/2023 11:25

As long as they’re not coercing you to join in and it’s not causing you more work, I really don’t see the issue. I think some people just need that level of accountability.

SunshineGeorgie · 23/03/2023 11:25

I don't need to 'tell' you anything though @ConfusedNT

Chowtime · 23/03/2023 11:25

oh let em get on with it it's not harming anyone

ConfusedNT · 23/03/2023 11:26

There's nothing wrong with consenting adults doing this in a meeting room etc

There is a lot wrong with them doing this in the open office in front of other colleagues

Everything else aside its just disruptive to the work day

ConfusedNT · 23/03/2023 11:26

SunshineGeorgie · 23/03/2023 11:25

I don't need to 'tell' you anything though @ConfusedNT

You might not need to but your post was very telling nevertheless

Justmuddlingalong · 23/03/2023 11:26

What's your issue?
Is it because you say yourself you're overweight, that you feel pressured to join in or because you hasn't been invited to take part?
I don't see how it affects you, so let them crack on.

Minikievs · 23/03/2023 11:27

I don't own scales at home but there are a set in the office. So I weigh myself in the office.
A couple of others do too. As a personal thing. I couldn't give a shit who does / doesn't weigh themselves. If people want to they do, if they don't.......then they don't.
I'd find it really odd if other colleagues (that don't weigh themselves and I don't care!!!) cared that I DO weigh myself.
Some people are offended by anything.

lazycats · 23/03/2023 11:28

Sounds weird to me. Mind you I'm a good weight so I might just do it once and assume they'd never ask me again.

mynameiscalypso · 23/03/2023 11:28

I have a history of anorexia and not ashamed to say that I'd find this triggering as fuck. I absolutely would not participate and would have to absent myself from watching other people do it because, if not, the first thing I'd do is go home, weigh myself and compare myself to others and then see how much weight I could lose compared to them.

EggyBreads · 23/03/2023 11:28

This happened at an office I used for well to work at - I just didn't join in.