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".

This. Otherwise it’s all a bit ‘all fatties together’ (not how I feel btw, I just know that I would feel uncomfortable in the circs the OP describes).

I found this to be quite humiliating
Why? You are the size you are. Presumably, you are very good at your job like the others. Size isn't an issue, they just need to make sure they order the right size from another retailer who might be making them individually, so returns and exchanges not as flexible as lower sizes.

Don't make it about you. Go with your head high. If you don't want others to know your measurements, ask for it not to be said loudly and just written down where others can't see.

No. They should be doing it so not to offend the under size 18s by making them wear ill fitting generic uniforms while their colleagues get tailored ones.

They should have samples of the standard sizes so people can try them on (before requesting a nice tailored uniform!)

But the email was a general email, probably not just to the over18s (I'm on) and I would think the over 18s will be self identifying, no one will be rounding them up with a lasso

Size 18 is unlikely to be a healthy size (I say that as someone aiming to be a 14)

Um. That's social politeness.

But they have plenty of uniforms up to a size 16 available, so when they deliver, if someone tries on a 12 and actually needs a 14, they can likely just swap it - the only ones that need to be measured are the ones they have to custom make, as they don't carry those sizes as standard and are making them to order.

It seems like it would push the whole cost of the service up significantly if they insisted on measuring everyone to provide a solution to a problem that doesn't exist - people in the sizes they carry can just swap one size for another quite easily so there's no need for the tailor to measure them.

This. People have eyes. Also, no one cares what size you are, just whether you do your job well and are nice to your colleagues.

OP, I don’t see why they couldn’t measure everyone tbh. If it’s not cost effective to provide a full size range or measure everyone then they should find a different fucking supplier. A size 18 is widely available in most chain stores, it’s hardly rare. As a 12/14 with an ass that won’t quit I’d be wanting measured too if I caught wind of the tailored option, but I can see why it’s bugged you, it doesn’t feel inclusive.

"Size 18 is unlikely to be a healthy size (I say that as someone aiming to be a 14)"

Completely irrelevant.

Whilst that’s a lovely idea (who doesn’t like a tailored outfit!) realistically the company won’t be forming out for every uniform to be tailored when they only need pay for a few

Seems odd to me that they don't just find a supplier that stocks bigger sizes. Size 18 isn't that big and certainly isn't unusual.

@Bamboux I can tell the difference between genuine shock and "social politeness".

I am tall (well I don't think I'm tall, but other people do) at 5'7" which helps

I'm also broad shouldered and have been in the past (not now) extremely fit.

I’m a costume maker and often receive wrong measurements from the cast. People aren’t great at measuring themselves and often don’t know exactly where to take a measurement. I stopped allowing this early in my career

i do however agree that everyone should have been measured, not just those over a specific size. Eliminates any discrimination but also sizes vary so much it reduces the chance of the wrong size being ordered

There's not a lot to be unhappy about. You're getting a tailored uniform which will be more flattering than your colleagues below a size 18. Some people love to be offended.

I wouldn't be embarrassed - people have eyes and can see I am over a size 18 and I don't think my size is a problem.

I think it could have perhaps been worded better, such as 'As there are restrictions on sizing, we would like to invite all who may need a different sized uniform to please attend a session with the tailor on X to ensure we get you the correct fit.'

Nothing to be embarrassed about, and if anyone made any detrimental comments I would not hesitate to sing like a canary to HR.

I can't believe the employer isn't using a uniform with a bigger size range, do you work in a clothing shop that caps at 16?

All this could be solved if retailers were forced to change women's clothing to sizes in CM. Depending on the shop I can be a 14/16/18, because its such a pain I order 99% of my clothes from next where I know I can order a 16 and have plenty of room or a 14 if I want a more tailored look.

What would possess you to write such a cruel thing?

Fat isnt a bad word?

Everyone has fat on their bodies.

Its a neutral term - its the intention of the person that makes it cruel.

I've just been 30 mins in the dentist chair, so forgot why I wrote this

Yep. No one is doing themselves favours pretending themselves and others aren’t what they are

female members of staff size 18

Did a similar note go out to males? 🌹

Tone can be hard to carry across, so I'll just mention this is kindly meant. Do you feel ashamed or embarrassed about being over a size 16? If you don't, then what's wrong with going to the fitting?

Presumably the uniform is a dress

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

Yes but it can be changed. You can lose weight. If you have a condition that means you can't lose weight, that is a protected characteristic.

It's not obesity that is the last bastion of acceptable discrimination, it's height, and there's nothing you can do about that. You can't eat more to grow upwards (only outwards!)