Size discrimination in workplace

[GEC44]

Looking at another current thread on here regarding being weighed in the office, it's made me want to post about my employer.

The role is a uniformed role.

New uniform was recently issued and a memo went out a few weeks beforehand to ask any female members of staff size 18 or above to attend a measuring session in a meeting room, as the uniform supplier doesn't go past size 16 and so anything bigger would need to be specially made.

I found this to be quite humiliating. Fair enough if the supplier doesn't go past a certain size, but the employer could have been a bit more discreet about it rather than getting all the size 18 plus ladies in for a "measuring session".

I would be thrilled if someone offered me a chance to get a made to fit uniform! I’m a size 18 and trying to get uniform is nigh on impossible. I have to wear men’s trousers as the women’s ones only go up to a very tight 16 and my t-shirts are unisex so hang on me like a tent.

It infuriates me that men’s uniform stuff goes up to XXXXXL and 60 in chest but if you’re a woman, you can’t be bigger than a 14-16.

How is it discrimination? They’re still getting a uniform.

Discrimination would be “we cannot provide uniforms for women above size 18”

I’m really short so had to have a special uniform made. I was emailed about it. I can’t see the issue with this.
Some tall people may need a different uniform? It’s not discrimination to ensure you get a decent fitting uniform.

If the clothes are being tailored then only a tailor should do measuring

It's not discrimination as being over a size 16 isn't a protected characteristic.

It's not very sensitive though and the uniform company doesn't sound great if they don't make over a 16 which is fairly average nowadays.

How is it discriminating to get a made to measure uniform? Your uniform will fit nicely. It will be better than the off the peg uniforms.

Is it discriminating that in the stationery cupboard short people can’t reach the top shelves? Is is discriminating that some peoples office are further from the loos? Is it discriminating that accounts and finance are on the third floor when everyone else is on level one? Or is it just that it’s different for different people?

I agree. I would love a tailor made uniform, it will fit so much better.

So people who a not a size 18 have to pretend they don’t know if they are just to appease others? Ridiculous

This. People seem to think anything is discrimination these days with no knowledge of what the protected characteristics are.

Is it a single session that anyone size 18+ is expected to attend at the same time? Or do you discreetly 'book in' a slot with one person to measure you?

There's a difference and to me the latter is OK, the former isn't.

Everyone size 18+ is expected to attend at the same time.

Yes far too many people confusing ‘discrimination’ with ‘acknowledging differences’

Well it's not discrimination but definitely insensitive, you shouldn't have to be measured in front of other people and have your clothes size shared/ a thing made out of it.

I would politely point out that it's not very sensitive and a discreet one-to-one appointment system would be better.

Surely measuring everyone is a waste of time? If someone is a size 14 they can request a size 14 uniform. If this runs too small or too large then the employer will surely have spare uniform stocked that they can swap this for. To measure everybody would be a waste of the manufacturer's time (which the employer is presumably paying for) and the employee's time (which the employer is definitely paying for)

People seem to think anything is discrimination these days with no knowledge of what the protected characteristics are.

There is a difference between discrimination and illegal discrimination. Just because something isn’t a protected characteristic doesn’t stop people discriminating on that basis. People who are overweight are often discriminated against in all kinds of ways (especially in medical contexts) and have little recourse precisely because it’s not legally a protected characteristic. That doesn’t magically make it fine for the people on the receiving end.

No, just to ensure nobody feels singled out, which should have been blindingly obvious to HR.

Once people reach size 18 plus measurements aren't as easy to just 'stretch' out proportionately as they are for smaller sizes. Being measured is fine, being measured by someone who knows what they're doing is fine, I can see why you don't feel comfortable with everyone having to meet together- as stated though realistically people can see others size anyway I'm not sure why so much offense at being an 18 or above?

They wouldn't be pretending to not know if they're a size 18 or not, they would having the same opportunity to be measured for a properly fitting uniform as the people who are a size 18, so a win all round. I know I'm not a size 18, but don't know if I'm a 6, 8 or 10 because it depends on the shop and where the garment is more fitted (waist or hip) I'd be very happy to be measured.

Wait hang on…

Are you suggesting HR don’t tell people about the uniform size issue - so size 8 people are turning up and getting a fake tailoring? Wasting everybody’s time, and then giving them a non tailored outfit?

Or are you saying they SHOULD say about the size 18 issue and get everyone along anyway, even the size 8 people, who have to pretend to wonder if they’re 5 sizes too bigger?

What utter snowflakery bullshit is this?!

Honestly I am a size 16 and I would be a bit gutted to be getting a standard size rather than a custom fit. I have a small waist and large hips so uniform always looks stupid on me.

People already know you are overweight, even if they don't know your exact size. Size is not a protected characteristic and you are getting a better fitting uniform than your slimmer colleagues so I don't see the problem.

Ouch 😓

I’m wondering why only women and not the men (or do the men all look like Adonis?). Having said that, you could end up looking a lot better in the uniform than your colleagues who have an off the rack version.

So the company should be paying for tailored outfits for everyone in order to not offend size 18+ people knowing that they’re size 18+?

What utter snowflakery bullshit is this?!

Quite.

I'm 5ft 2. I need uniform shortened.

A uniform supplier making clothes too long for me isn't discrimination

A uniform supplier asking for me to be measured isn't discrimination (its helpful!)

People can SEE I'm short.