Would you hire a morbidly obese Nanny?

[whompingwillo]

I would like to hire someone we’ve met for my 9 month old baby. She’s fab, great with kids, lovely, I have no concerns.

I would estimate her BMI is 50-60 and my husband noticed that it is a struggle for her to get up and down off the floor and he is worried that if baby was in danger she may struggle.

So what would you do? Do you think that weight could impact a job like this? I’m sure people of this weight have their own children and are safe to look after them?

YABU - morbid obesity could impact her ability to do this job

YANBU - she’ll be fine

Yes percieved, we don't know exactly how big this poor nanny is, you don't know how big I am or anyone else on this thread is. Also people could say morbidly obese when they just mean overweight. Either way the amount of hate and judgement of overweight people on this thread is disgusting!
Makes me think what do people think of me when i'm in work and up a ladder or on the floor, do they think I shouldn't be doing my job because I am too fat, or do they think I struggle with these tasks because I really don't!

Honestly, I doubt in real life anyone would be judging you. Mumsnet users are a different breed, and some come on here deliberately to sneer at others because it makes them feel better about their own empty lives. Notice the OP hasn't been back?

Actual, normal, nice people don't judge others by their weight, because they're intelligent enough to realise that a person has far more important qualities than the amount of fat their body has on it. All the assumptions being made on this thread are not the thoughts of rational, stable minds.

Gosh this thread took a bit of a turn!

I do have an update though, on checking references there has been a significant amount of sick leave for previous families.

Im still undecided as she’s my favourite candidate in terms of being good with the baby…

How much sick leave and why ?

fwiw I was a nanny for 20yrs. I had think 2 sick days off in that time

in 20yrs !!

for having abnormal smears and cancerous cells zapped off and ga

I did tho have 3w off paid in last job but that was when dh died so unusual circumstances

And I chose to go back even tho family said take longer paid - I needed to get back to the new normal

im not an ill person and if a bad cold happy to come in and have a sofa /tv day

so the fact various employers/ref have mentioned time off would be a red flag to me

Oh, dear, OP 😢 It looks as though the health concerns might be justified. Is "Good with the baby when she's here, provided baby doesn't need too much effort" really enough?

It must be quite unusual for previous families to highlight this, surely? One family could be over-exigent twats, but more than one?

Oh dear, oh dear not the epitome of health then. As Garlicworth says not just from one family either.

No good her being the best with the baby if she’s going to be off sick every 5 minutes, OP.

Does she have children of her own? If so that could account for the amount of sick leave she had had?

Yes, that’ll be it 🤨

OP, you know the answer to this, really.

No children of her own!

Finding a good nanny seems so hard but I do agree that the majority and my husband are correct and she isn’t right for the role right now.

There are many nannies about at the moment @whompingwillo

it is def an employers market so as long as you are offering a competitive salary sure you will find Someone easily

Good luck finding a suitable nanny @whompingwillo and i'm not being sarcastic I really mean that.

No need for the sarcastic comment and emoji, I was simply pointing out that COULD have been the case not that it was the case.

No, I wouldn't.
While BMI isn't an exact indicator, someone that obese would be unable to do their job properly and/or is at greater risk of heart attack etc while in your employment and looking after your child.

@Gone12 , thank you for your thanks
😁As far as I know, obesity/body size is not a protected characteristic. However, the chronic health issues associated with a high BMI (eg sleep apnoea and diabetes) are protected characteristics - whatever size the person might be. This means employers cannot legally discriminate against a candidate with these conditions unless they have a specific reason for exemption.

However, understanding exactly what medical information you can legally ask a prospective nanny before employing them is a minefield. This is probably why unconscious bias kicks in, whereby people make assumptions based on probability linked to how thin or fat someone is, rather than any medical evidence specific to an individual.

In a way, it would probably be easier (and fairer) for obese people to be considered for a job if employers were able to ask medical questions of ALL candidates, such as: how many days have you had off sick in the past 3 years? Or, do you have sleep apnea and if so do you ever fall asleep suddenly during the day? Or, how fast/far can you run/walk without being out of breath? At least that way, employers could base their decision to include/exclude a candidate based on facts and medical evidence rather than statistical probability.

You are very invested in judging obese people as morally lacking. Semaglutides work by regulating insulin by supplementing the action of a hormone. That is the mechanism. Some people may lack GLP-1 rather than moral fibre?

"Ozempic works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone. As those hormone levels rise, the molecules go to your brain, telling it you're full. It also slows digestion by increasing the time it takes for food to leave the body. This is similar to the effect of bariatrics surgery"

So whatever the mechanism, it stops you eating so much. Not judging at all but it is a fact that the less you consume the less you will weigh.

Reposting this for those that missed it;

Such horrible comments on here!

I was a nanny for 26 years prior to my career change, and a flippin' good one at that.

I am currently size 20, and 15 stone. I am 5'1 and classed as 'morbidly obese'.

I'm also a hillwalker; just recently I managed to get my morbidly obese arse up the second highest mountain in Wales.

I am a rock climber, hitting the crags a number of times a year. You will also find me at the climbing gym a number of times a month.

Yes, I'm a big girl. But I am more than capable of looking after your precious children, thanks.

Some people are just awful.

We aren't disputing that anyone can walk or climb, although tbh when I'm on long challenging hilly walks I do not encounter morbidly obese people.

It isn't a personal thing, morbidly obese people are not worthless and of course are valuable members of society the question is would you employ them <morbidly obese, not just overweight> privately to look after your dc at home with all the associated risks of potentially more sick leave and the health influencing of young dc, many would not

Just quickly as I have to be in work in an hour, the job where me&my manager who are both considered morbidly obese funnily enough have the lowest sick rate on our team. As for hill walking so you don't see morbidly obese people on your walks, that must mean they don't do it?

'As for hill walking so you don't see morbidly obese people on your walks, that must mean they don't do it?'

I haven't carried out a national audit however anecdotally no I've never seen a morbidly obese person on a challenging hilly walk. Tbh nor on a flat beach walk. I'm out with the dog at various times and yes of course I see morbidly obese people pootling about the shops (all lovely by the way, as I keep saying it is not personal) but do I see them striding along the beach or the dunes doing 5miles? No.

I haven't carried out a national audit however anecdotally no I've never seen a morbidly obese person on a challenging hilly walk. Tbh nor on a flat beach walk

Same here. I do see people who are probably overweight on challenging walks...walking the hills isn't solely for 8 stone athletes, clearly. But a morbidly obese person...no. Never. And I walk at least an hour a day in woods, on mountains, on cliff paths etc.

It's not surprising really. If you're morbidly obese then you're carrying the weight of 2, 3 or more humans on your single human skeleton. You're going to struggle doing taxing activities like hiking and you therefore tend to see less of these body types (or none) doing it.

Can’t say I’ve seen any out when walking in the numerous country parks on dog walks either. Overweight yes, morbidly obese no 🤔

Really?? You have never seen anyone morbidly obese walking in a country park or beach?? Not sure I believe that. I suspect you have zero idea what morbidly obese people look like.