Would you hire a morbidly obese person?

[Anonymous]

We have an overweight, not obese, person on our team and it has been a huge issue because she has health issues.

She is constantly calling in sick, in and out of doctor's appointments and overall can't do her job because of her health. It makes me sad that she is otherwise a great employee, but being out 30% of the time is a huge roadblock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have an overweight, not obese, person on our team and it has been a huge issue because she has health issues.

She is constantly calling in sick, in and out of doctor's appointments and overall can't do her job because of her health. It makes me sad that she is otherwise a great employee, but being out 30% of the time is a huge roadblock.

Um, thin people can have health problems, too! Would you be more forgiving of sick days from a non overweight employee??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I have issues I tackle them (and I've had some doozies). For someone to be so wounded from childhood that they weigh 350 lbs - well, at some point it seems like he's too lazy to fix the underlying issues that are quite literally going to kill him.

Let us know how your plan to defeat death works out.

It's not that I can defy death- it's that I don't have to die young and unemployed because I suffocated myself with my own fat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I have issues I tackle them (and I've had some doozies). For someone to be so wounded from childhood that they weigh 350 lbs - well, at some point it seems like he's too lazy to fix the underlying issues that are quite literally going to kill him.

Why don't you get repeatedly raped when you're 8-12 years old, and let me know how easy it is for you to avoid any self-destructive behaviors as a 20-30 something year old.

[Anonymous]

It totally depends on their social communication skills and resume. I wouldn't be prepossessed in their favor, to be completely honest, but I wouldn't dismiss them off-hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I have issues I tackle them (and I've had some doozies). For someone to be so wounded from childhood that they weigh 350 lbs - well, at some point it seems like he's too lazy to fix the underlying issues that are quite literally going to kill him.

Why don't you get repeatedly raped when you're 8-12 years old, and let me know how easy it is for you to avoid any self-destructive behaviors as a 20-30 something year old.

Lots of people engage in self-destructive behavior, but at some point you need to seek help. Hopefully someone can help him find it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I have issues I tackle them (and I've had some doozies). For someone to be so wounded from childhood that they weigh 350 lbs - well, at some point it seems like he's too lazy to fix the underlying issues that are quite literally going to kill him.

We spend $300 a week on therapy. Believe me, he is working on it. We weren't able to afford quality mental health care before this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is sad. My DH is around 350, and he has an incredibly difficult time getting a new job. He's an amazing public speaker, a fantastic writer, and works harder than anyone I've known. He's been one of the final two or three candidates in job searches more than I can count. I think the weight is what keeps him from that final offer.

He has a problem with emotional eating because he was abused as a kid. I hate that it continues to hold him back.

I hate that people make assumptions that fat people are lazy. Nothing could be further from the truth for some.

Tell him to start snacking on carrots. No dip or spread, just carrots. Also, only drink water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I have issues I tackle them (and I've had some doozies). For someone to be so wounded from childhood that they weigh 350 lbs - well, at some point it seems like he's too lazy to fix the underlying issues that are quite literally going to kill him.

Let us know how your plan to defeat death works out.

It's not that I can defy death- it's that I don't have to die young and unemployed because I suffocated myself with my own fat.

I'm sure you have some other issues. You sound pretty heartless, for one.

[Anonymous]

When you get to be morbidly obese, it is incredibly difficult to lose the weight. Your body fights you every step of the way. It *wants* to hold onto every pound.
It would be great if no one ever got to that point, but in reality, shitty life things happen. And they are incredibly hard to fix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is sad. My DH is around 350, and he has an incredibly difficult time getting a new job. He's an amazing public speaker, a fantastic writer, and works harder than anyone I've known. He's been one of the final two or three candidates in job searches more than I can count. I think the weight is what keeps him from that final offer.

He has a problem with emotional eating because he was abused as a kid. I hate that it continues to hold him back.

I hate that people make assumptions that fat people are lazy. Nothing could be further from the truth for some.

Tell him to start snacking on carrots. No dip or spread, just carrots. Also, only drink water.

Thanks for the tip.

[Anonymous]

OP, yes. I work in government IT and we have lots of fat men working here. No big deal in our shop. We have plenty of people who call out sick all the time, but they are both thin and fat. Our worst abuser is a thin alcoholic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would impact my decision, yes. I see morbid obesity as a huge charachter flaw and would have concerns about their ability to perform.

Same reason I wouldn't hire a woman wearing a massive engagement ring or 5 inch heels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would impact my decision, yes. I see morbid obesity as a huge charachter flaw and would have concerns about their ability to perform.

Same reason I wouldn't hire a woman wearing a massive engagement ring or 5 inch heels.

Exactly. We all have predjudices and to pretend we don't is silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I don't even like to hire overweight people who aren't morbidly obese. It shows lack of self-discipline. It shows laziness and a lack of self-respect. Not the kind of people I want working for me.

I'm sorry, did you want a note from my doctor explaining that I'm in great shape but am on a maintenance medication for which weight gain is an unfortunate side effect? How about my gym membership swipe card report or my FitBit data? I exercise far more than the underweright person I work with, and my mile time is faster than my fit-looking coworker. Maybe step away from the judgmental fitspiration posters and realize that there's a wide variety of healthy weights and plenty of naturally thin people are lazy and self-loathing, too?