XPost - OT Have you seen this article?
Yep, saw it. It apparently is legal since the obese aren't a protected class under our laws. Stinks big time.
--gina
--gina
5'1" -- HW 195/SW 187/GW 115 July 08/CW 121 Dec 2012
******GOAL*******
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
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DS on Aug 9, 2007 with Dr. Hazem Elariny
They were talking about it on the Today Show yesterday. Just made me so sad. I am in healthcare and after hearing that wondered if I had been "passed over" at times due to my weight. 
They said it was legal and were not protected under the disabilities act unless someone was actually disabled because of their weight.
They said it was legal and were not protected under the disabilities act unless someone was actually disabled because of their weight.
There are several protected classes under different federal laws (race, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, disabilities, etc...) other than the protected classes, employers are allowed to discriminate in their hiring practices.
They can say, I don't want to hire smokers, short people, obese people, lefties, etc... As a general rule employers should have a valid reason for why they do or do not pick certain types of people. They have to be careful. If they say I don't want to hire blondes, it could be construed as discriminating against someone for national origin since so many Scandinavians are blonde (just an example). It is a tricky area in federal labor law.
I don't know the details behind this hospital, but their reason in the article is that they want to project a certain image to their patients. They had to draw a line in the sand somewhere so they picked the BMI of 35. It will be interesting to see if they are sued in the future.
Personally, I suspect this has a great deal to do with the cost of health care. It is very common for obese people to have comorbidities (I did) that are chronic and require monitoring and consistent medical care. The same for smokers. Generally speaking, smoking and obesity have negative impacts on your health. These conditions lead to a higher cost of health care for smokers and obese people. I know there are smokers and obese people who don't have any issues, but they are not the norm.
More and more employers are turning to wellness programs and incentives to decrease obesity (and smoking) in their work force. It isn't out of the goodness of their hearts, but a direct reflection on their bottom-line in medical costs.
As a former morbidly obese person, I was openly discriminated against when my BMI was under 30. It tore me up emotionally. It hurts my heart that our society has come to this. But, I have to say, I support an employers right to be selective in their work force, even if I don't agree with their selection criteria.
It is like free speech. I support free speech, even if I don't like what you have to say.
Kay
They can say, I don't want to hire smokers, short people, obese people, lefties, etc... As a general rule employers should have a valid reason for why they do or do not pick certain types of people. They have to be careful. If they say I don't want to hire blondes, it could be construed as discriminating against someone for national origin since so many Scandinavians are blonde (just an example). It is a tricky area in federal labor law.
I don't know the details behind this hospital, but their reason in the article is that they want to project a certain image to their patients. They had to draw a line in the sand somewhere so they picked the BMI of 35. It will be interesting to see if they are sued in the future.
Personally, I suspect this has a great deal to do with the cost of health care. It is very common for obese people to have comorbidities (I did) that are chronic and require monitoring and consistent medical care. The same for smokers. Generally speaking, smoking and obesity have negative impacts on your health. These conditions lead to a higher cost of health care for smokers and obese people. I know there are smokers and obese people who don't have any issues, but they are not the norm.
More and more employers are turning to wellness programs and incentives to decrease obesity (and smoking) in their work force. It isn't out of the goodness of their hearts, but a direct reflection on their bottom-line in medical costs.
As a former morbidly obese person, I was openly discriminated against when my BMI was under 30. It tore me up emotionally. It hurts my heart that our society has come to this. But, I have to say, I support an employers right to be selective in their work force, even if I don't agree with their selection criteria.
It is like free speech. I support free speech, even if I don't like what you have to say.
Kay
Yes, I saw it...and while it IS legal cause the obese is not a protected class under federal law, it isn't ETHICAL!
Fat discrimination is the one of last legal prejudice there is still in the US.
Liz
Fat discrimination is the one of last legal prejudice there is still in the US.
Liz
Duodenal Switch (Lap) 01-24-11 | Surgeon: Stephen Boyce | High weight: 250 in 2002 | Surgery weight: 203 | Lowest weight: 121 | Current weight: 135 | Goal weight: 135
(deactivated member)
on 4/12/12 4:37 am, edited 4/12/12 4:37 am
on 4/12/12 4:37 am, edited 4/12/12 4:37 am
also disabled discrimination Liz . I know blind people ( college educated , come with a free federally paid for reader / asistant ) who couldnt find a ob for FIVE YEARS ! despite an ivy league education , awesome track record as a supervisor ...
only place they COULD get hired was government .
only place they COULD get hired was government .
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