Workplace Discrimination For Weight In Texas
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Fat·ism ˈfat-ˌi-zəm. : prejudice or discrimination against fat people. Never has it been more socially and professionally unacceptable to be fat in Britain … . At a time when racism, sexism and ageism have become taboo, fatism is the last acceptable prejudice. Carol Midgley, The Times (London), 16 Feb.
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.
Receiving negative comments or “health concerns” about your weight from anyone, including health care professionals. Complimenting someone on their weight loss. Receiving poor treatment because of your size or being denied/ required to lose weight because of your size in order toreceive a medical treatment.
In most states employees can be fired because of their weight. Michigan is the only state that has passed a law explicitly prohibiting weight-based discrimination and the Washington state Supreme Court has declared that obesity is covered under their anti-discrimination law.
While Texas does not yet have any active legislation to protect against weight discrimination, several Fifth Circuit courts have made moves in the right direction.
Although there is no explicit federal law that identifies obese individuals as a protected class under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), at least one state and a handful of cities across the country have passed laws prohibiting employers from discriminating against employment candidates based on weight.
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.
While Texas does not yet have any active legislation to protect against weight discrimination, several Fifth Circuit courts have made moves in the right direction.
