Would you hire someone visibly anorexic?

[Ncncncncc]

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

Another ignoramus. They wouldn't have applied for the job if they weren't capable.

You really do need to educate yourself.

Can’t believe people are pretending visibly anorexic isn’t a thing. It really is and it has to be very severe for it to be visibly anorexic.

and op the answer is no, I would not, not if the person was severe enough to be visibly anorexic.

Eh? You can absolutely have anorexia, i.e. lack of appetite while recovering from cancer or during treatment. It's a symptom, and was just an example of anorexia that isn't anorexia norvosa. I had anorexia and subsequently became underweight due to chronic pain from endometriosis.

Oh go away.

At what point is someone visibly anorexic? I was extremely thin until my mid twenties. Had strangers on the street tell me I looked anorexic. In fact I was just very thin. 5'6" and 7st 4lb. I have worked with recovering anorexics and I would have just assumed naturally very thin if I hadn't been told.

At work yes, depending on the role. The only thing I would avoid is if I was in the position to hire a nanny/au pair as I think my own ED history was heavily influenced by an older very visibly unwell cousin who lived with one of my parents for a time.

I had a relapse and looked and was very ill and started a new job. I managed for about 4 months. AN is not something which you can mess with and the rigours of a new job - both mentally and physically can be too much. I had a desk job but I couldn’t think straight.

Based on this, now as an employer, would probably accidentally discriminate against.

In the case the OP is talking about, it's quite clear that she's talking about anorexia as in the individual illness, not anorexia 'as an appetite loss as a result of some other illness' though.

I mentioned that my friend 'looks' anorexic (as in a sufferer from the illness anorexia nervosa) although she is not a sufferer from said illness and has no appetite loss, just an inability to digest food (with no appetite loss). Therefore , she looks anorexic, but isn't.

Thats not real life though. Do you know how difficult it is to access support/UC/PIP? We've all got bills to pay, families to support, people have to work and I speak from 20 years experience of living with chronic illness. Time off work is a luxury that most can't afford.

Can you link to that please as I cannot find any evidence that what you’re saying is correct.

I think for me, thinness wouldn't be an issue in itself, lots of people are very thin naturally but if it was on top of looking very unwell, weak, sunken eyes and effecting behaviour like energy/attention yes I would be concerned.

If they were just thin but CV was good with no worrying gaps or long illnesses (just like with anyone else tbh) then it would be fine.

I'm most roles I don't think it would make a difference, but there are a few exceptions for me. Anything involving very intense physical labour, manual labour etc, I'd have some concerns.

I would also be reluctant to hire someone I knew had anorexia (or any significant eating disorder) if I was hiring a nanny, because being a good role model for children with food/sitting down to meals together, would be important to me.

And maybe not a chef, but I can't imagine that would be a popular job with someone with anorexia.

@Janetime I think the PP means that 'anorexia' is a medical term for a lack of appetite, which is a symptom of many conditions, physical or otherwise. Anorexia nervosa, which we all shorten to anorexia, is a disease in its own right.

Honestly, if it was up to me, no. I have suffered from disordered eating in the past and I would worry about your ED behaviours triggering relapse. It would make me incredibly anxious. I’m sorry.

Apologies, I saw your subsequent post and realised I misunderstood. I thought you were implying chronically ill people could rely on some sort of creative hobby/paid surveys to somehow make up a full time wage. I agree a life should not be defined by one's ability to work full time and there are plenty of people with chronic illnesses who are very capable of working part time (and would love to) but are limited by the UC/ESA hoops, declining opportunities to work from home, discrimination etc. I have a chronic illness that makes full time work difficult and I have a friend in a similar position. We are both very limited by this when in an ideal world we shouldn't be.

People apply for jobs they aren't capable every single day, when I worked in retail for example there were loads of applicants for shop floor job who couldn't have done even half a day

And YOU need to read the full thread! Or at least 'educate yourself' on how to read all of the OP's posts at once!

The OP is the person with anorexia!

That's not always necessarily true. We had clearly stated in our ad that person must be fit to walk up and down stairs all shift, yet got people in interview who asked if that can work without going up and down because they have x issue. No. That was not an option in that building simply. Sometimes people apply and ask. Fair enough, you don't try you don't get.

@AntonFeckoff is absolutely right. Anorexia means a loss of appetite and there can be multiple causes. Anorexia nervosa is what people assume when they hear anorexia and the terms are used interchangeably although they are medically not quite the same thing.

Yes. Having experience being both anorexic & a worker I know that I was one of the most diligent - & as a consequence, swiftly promoted - employees in my positions. Anorexic friends were similarly driven. In fact, success away from an environment that made us ill can be positive.
Are they for sure anorexic though?
Not just skinny?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorexia_(symptom)

You have to be very careful about discrimination obviously but I have had a friend get a job while visibly very sick with anorexia and she had to leave after two weeks. She hasn't tried work since. As friends we were delighted they took a chance on her but as a business owner/manager it could be a big risk.

I do apologise.

I think it really depends on the job. I wouldn't hire you as my nanny. I would hire you for an admin job.

OP job market is very competitive at present. It may not be anything to do with your physical appearance. Keep plugging away and hope you find something soon.