Colleague bringing scales to office - weighing others.

[SFG112112]

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.

I imagine the 1970s were much stricter. Employers tend to like having a happy workforce now, it results in more productivity. No one likes to be micromanaged

you've clearly made your work personality 'nodding along to everything in a bid to be liked'.

Not sure where you got that from lol. But I’m a bit bored of you now, so will leave it there, have a pleasant evening :)

I think if they want to support each other that it's a great idea. Not everyone can afford slimming clubs so finding a way to gain support and achieve what you want to achieve is great.
It doesn't sound like anyone is doing it with Ill intentions or to upset anyone.
If I was comfy with my group of work mates I would join them.
Support is key if you want to make healthy lifestyle choices!

That sort of nonsense is one of the reasons I run my own business. I can't be doing with over sharing, all that "Bring your whole self to work" crap.

Who cares if Freda in Accounts is even fatter than last week?

This is just so odd!

night night, not at all boring person.

Why do you think the onus is on the person who's negatively affected to speak out, forcing them to confront an entire group, rather than the onus being on the group, or the manager, to not do things in the workplace, in working hours, that have massive potential to cause distress?

Because YOU are the one who has an issue with it! If nobody in that workplace had an issue with it, the whole thing drops away. YOU have an issue, YOU take responsibility for it. This is what grown ups do, in a grown up world where people take responsibility for themselves rather than expecting other people - HR, bosses, management, colleagues - to do it. I can’t believe this is where we’ve got to. “You all think about everyone else, all the time, wrt every possible issue that each and every human being might have, whilst I don’t do anything other than foist my expectations upon you and complain that I have to do so”.

Doesn't sound much consensual to me - and more importantly fitness and body weight are far from being the same. You can lose a lot of weight and still be unable to walk a full mile. You won't find many slim builders or movers ...

Sounds ridiculous to me. Wrong place wrong time.

I would absolutely hate this too. I’m decades over the anorexia that plagued my late teens and early 20s, but I would still feel absolutely shit about something like that in the workplace. I don’t need to know anyone else’s weight and they don’t need to know mine. Just unnecessary.

Completely inappropriate in the work place as someone who suffered from an ED this would be triggering AF

Whaaat 😂 they’re doing this just for something to do? How boring is your work?! I feel like you maybe work at my old work as this would seem like a fun day out in comparison but why on earth would anyone think to do this as a form of entertainment if it’s not anything to do with a pre-arranged weight loss club or something 🙈

Lord above.

Unless you're a boxer or a jockey tell 'em to jog on obvs only if this really happened at all

It's common in the military because they stupidly believe in bmi..... I always refused to administrate the 3 month weight loss sanctions for the rugby players who were "morbidly obese" yknow the same people who could easily bench press me and could carry weight for miles!! Unlike the skinny guys who struggled after 8 miles..... I know who is rather be with in a dangerous situation.

Yes. I joined a work one years ago it was £2 each week for everyone and the biggest loser each month got the pot - no pressure to join

How utterly unprofessional. An office is a place of work for crying out loud. You want to have a work weight shaming club, then book a private room during lunch, doing it in the middle of the office is just pathetic, attention seeking "aren't I kooky" crap.

All these “totally unprofessional” posts are ridiculous. Not all jobs ARE professional. They’re mundane, tedious, boring, repetitive but pay a wage and clearly are right for some people. And, not everyone works in an office. And, not everyone has enough work to fill their days, every day, non-stop. Many people do have the odd 10 minutes here and there. Is this so difficult to imagine?

Why do HR need to know? If he was bringing scales in and forcing you and only you to be weighed then you'd have cause for complaint, but you don't want to be involved and aren't so what's your actual issue @SFG112112 ?!

Fwiw there's a subset of our team doing similar atm. Except they weigh individually and record weight on a chart only group members have access to. I've not felt the need to be bothered about it!

I'm pretty sure you participate at your own request. It doesn't sound controlling to me, or even cohersive

To those saying "I don't see the harm" can't you listen to people with direct experience? This is totally unacceptable.

Really weird.

But then with all due respect, then the question is should companies shut down all work place activities due to how far some will take the x activities even when it seems this one is helpful to team building ?

How bizarre.

LTB and find some new work colleagues

Weight loss competitions in the workplace are actively harmful to team building and staff morale, as well as negatively affecting women in particular.

If it is damaging to some staff members then find a new "team building" exercise.