Workplace Discrimination For Weight In Michigan
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Weight discrimination is when someone receives different treatment than others because of their body weight. People of higher weights are often discriminated against at work, school, healthcare settings, and in interpersonal relationships.
Michigan is the only state in the country with a law banning body size discrimination by making height and weight protected classes in the state's civil rights law.
Sizeism, weightism or size discrimination is unjust or prejudicial treatment directed at people based on their size.
The workplace is a common setting where weight bias and discrimination occur. Employees who have a higher body weight face weight-based inequities in employment including unfair hiring practices, lower wages, fewer promotions, harassment from co-workers, and unfair job termination.
Weight stigma or bias generally refers to negative weight-related attitudes toward an individual with excess weight or obesity. These attitudes are often manifested by negative stereotypes (e.g., that persons with obesity are “lazy” or “lacking in willpower”), social rejection and prejudice.
Even though discrimination based on weight has a negative impact on people's health and wellness, there is only one state in the U.S – Michigan – that has an anti-weight discrimination law.
The World Obesity Federation defines weight stigma as “the discriminatory acts and ideologies targeted towards individuals because of their weight and size.” Weight stigma can have devastating social, psychological, and physical effects for older adults living with obesity.
Workplace discrimination that results from false stereotypes against people with overweight and obesity has been well documented through research associating body mass index (BMI) with income and professional enhancement opportunities. Weight-based discrimination starts before a person even joins a workplace.
Older adults face more subtle forms of weight stigma in their daily environment. For example, in many doctor's offices, examination tables and gowns do not accommodate people of larger size. This is also true on many commercial airplanes, where seats will not fit an individual who carries significant excess weight.
