HR Pulse

Employers less likely to hire obese people

EWN reports that, according to a recent UK study, you are less likely to be hired if you are overweight or obese because people who are overweight are perceived to be less productive and so are less likely to be hired for jobs.  

Labour lawyer at Bagraims Attorneys, Gregory Duncan, spoke to the Money Show about the issue and said that in in South Africa there were protection laws against such discrimination.  “If you can prove that you’re being discriminated against because you’re fat then you have a case.  Having said that, it would be a difficult case for the prospective employee because how would they prove it?”  The study, which examined the attitudes of 1,000 British employers, found that nearly half of the recruiters said they would be less inclined to recruit an applicant at interview stage if they were obese.  The study also found that almost a third of the employers questioned said they were worried about the potential costs to the business to accommodate the side-effects of overweight staff.  Duncan indicated that the type of position to be filled would also play a role.  “When an employer puts out a post, they have requirements.  For example, a fat cop can’t chase down criminals so that would be justified.”