Would you hire someone visibly anorexic?

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I’m looking for honest (even if brutal) answers.

Christ this thread is awful

I’m going to stop hiring women - they might get pregnant

I’m going to stop hiring fat people - they might want a bigger chair or spend all their time eating

I don’t want old people either - they’re a bit slow

…….see how this line of thinking goes…….

It's against the law to discriminate and unless are medically qualified how are you able diagnose that this is why this person looks this way.

Skinny people aren't necessarily anorexic! There's no such thing as visibly anorexic. It's discrimination not to hire somebody if they have anorexia. I don't think you should be in a position to hire people tbh

OP - I hire people all the time. I wouldn’t not hire you because you look or are anorexic if disclosed.

In fact - and this is a horrible generalisation I know but both women I have known with anorexia were fastidious perfectionists in all aspects of their lives, depending on the job those are key skills

In that case ignore my earlier post. You deserve a job as much as anyone else. Do not let people discriminate against you. I hope
You can get help and control/overcome your disorder xx

@raspberryberet7 Perhaps you should actually read OP's posts.

@Justcount
I have seen one person with MH issues devastate a small business in under a year. It wasn't the fact of the absences - it was that everybody else was overworked covering for them and it was unmanageable.

The problem is not the problem - the problem is that the people used to soldier on to the detriment of their health, mental and physical, and now know better. You cannot be both responsible to the other workers in a small business, and to the clients of a small business, and to a chronically sick employee.

You may think employers never prefer workers to be younger and male and never discriminate, but personally I doubt that.

I would yes. To those saying "they need treatment, not a job" if the person is applying, they obviously feel capable of work. Also people need to work and not be homeless. Maybe they had treatment already and have counselling once a week or something, but it isn't really my business.

What do you mean you can't, you totally can, no one's policing thoughts

I know most of mn seems to work in highly regulated jobs with no deviation from HR policies but in my real world that's not how all jobs work

Not saying it's right but it wildly naive to believe that recruitment is always some kind of tick box do the right thing theoretical exercise where no I e is ever discriminated against

@raspberryberet7 I see you've realised she's the interviewee.

I was also thinking this.

I was thinking the same. Known for perfectionism and being organized.

Literally this has been my life. As a 19year old with Management experience I was turned down for promotion as I "will probably get pregnant one day"

I have fought my weight my whole life and know it has resulted in not being taken seriously at work (only size 16 but back in the 80s that was 'outsize')

Now am 61. In a good job but even when I have applied for other roles I get turned down immediately. I have been told I don't have the right experience or qualifications when I DO have them. My name gives my age away. It was common in the 60s so thats's obviously the reason.

Sickening

Hilary Mantel became a writer because she was chronically ill and knew she couldn't do a full time job. Not all of us are Hilary Mantel but there are other ways to make a life than a 9 to 5 job, and getting a job is like dating. Nobody is obliged to employ or to date you.

If they were a good candidate, yes, I think I would hire them (and I thought this before I saw OP's second post) - I would hope that getting a new job might be something that could be a big positive for them and perhaps help overcome the condition.

Jeez. Seriously?

OP is conspicuously NOT (the fabulous) Hilary Mantel. She wants a job and feels capable of working. She will find one.

Do please elaborate on what these 'other ways to make a life other than a 9 to 5 job' are

I have anorexia on and off in that I get better for a bit and then relapse significantly. My psychiatrist has wanted me off work a few times (and hospitalised) but I've always refused. I've always been able to work alongside it without much problem - been promoted, got excellent reviews etc. People at work notice and I know my face looks like shit sometimes, sure, but I'm pretty good at living with it. I consider it a chronic condition, much like my chronic physical conditions.

Anorexia is an illness. Being thin as a result of cancer treatment isn't an illness, it's a RESULT of illness. My friend eats well but treatment hit her hard and she lost weight, but NOT as a result of anorexia (which means lack of appetite, which she never lacked, just the ability to digest foods).

@LiterallyOnFire
Why would she want one job instead of two part time ones, or one part time one and a side hustle? Or one part time one and apply to UC for support?

If she feels capable of working, good for her. But loads of people are capable of working but not full time.

And she may yet turn out to be another Hilary Mantel. Stop limiting her.

You don't usually have to do 6 month bouts of inpatient hospitalization for refeeding with being overweight.

A friend of mine had to do 2 years inpatient

Yes, I would.

You could appoint anyone who has a hidden condition without knowing, or someone who may get a cancer diagnosis next week.

Have you never had two part time jobs? Or a side hustle? Or any UC? Gosh. You must have one of they career things.

Yes, it would be discrimination not to.

Depends on the job surely. My job requires physical strength and fitness so someone anorexic and weak from lack of food or indeed obese wouldn't be able to to do the job safely and could put other colleagues at risk.

My daughter has anorexia and is 19. At times she has looked incredibly thin. Last year she was working as a lifeguard. The employer expressed concern as to whether she could perform her role, and she was able to demonstrate that she was physically able to. After the summer she was employed in a shop assistant role having disclosed her illness. She worked there for six months and didn’t take a single day off sick. She is a functioning anorexic and in some ways her perfectionist nature makes her a good employee.