Height & Weight

456789

Can a company ask for your height and weight on an application form if it has nothing to do with your ability to do the job (an office job in this case)?

Can they ask it on a 'medical questionnaire' ?

borders_dude

Why would you be so concerned about providing this information?

bumpoowee

Height and weight can affect any job.

scooterchick

456789 wrote: »

Can a company ask for your height and weight on an application form if it has nothing to do with your ability to do the job (an office job in this case)?

Can they ask it on a 'medical questionnaire' ?

It depends. Although it might be an office job perhaps that are other jobs within the organisation that would require this info and they only have one application form. I don't know the answer but unless that information is required for medical reasons I don't think they would be allowed to ask. It would be liek asking what colour of eyes do you have?

scooterchick

borders_dude wrote: »

Why would you be so concerned about providing this information?

Why should he/she? Is size of feet relevant? IQ? Inside leg measurement?

scooterchick

bumpoowee wrote: »

Height and weight can affect any job.

How so? What jobs? Please give examples and how they would be effected?

mizzbiz

It's a standard part of the occupational health questionnaires to assess your BMI. Let's face it, if you have a BMI of 45 they're going to have to make special provisions for you if they give you the job and perhaps give you a more in-depth assessment prior to starting to make sure you are fit and healthy. That's all. Don't worry, it's not to find out if you're a few pounds overweight or anything.

kunekune

I think OP is concerned - as many would or perhaps should be - about discrimination on the basis of her weight, especially as she knows she can do the job perfectly well. It's a fair enough concern, because such discrimination is common, but isn't covered by any legislation. I don't know whether it's possible just to refuse to answer - applicants have few rights - but personally, I don't think it is legitimate to ask the question for every single job. It's only a real issue if (a) the applicant is unhealthy and/or (b) they are not fit enough to do the job. Fit and thin don't equate. Fit people may be fat. Many thin people are not fit in the slightest. Ditto fit and healthy.

scooterchick

I'm still not certain about the legality of such a questionairre for a staright forward office job. I'm sure employment law states that employers are only allowed to ask for relevant information and in this case BMI is clearly not relevant.

LittleVoice

scooterchick wrote: »

I'm still not certain about the legality of such a questionairre for a staright forward office job. I'm sure employment law states that employers are only allowed to ask for relevant information and in this case BMI is clearly not relevant.

I think at the application form stage it would fail as being excessive under Data Protection principles. Anyone agree?

scooterchick

LittleVoice wrote: »

I think at the application form stage it would fail as being excessive under Data Protection principles. Anyone agree?

Absolutely agree! I've never been asked that except for life insurance purposes. Which is acceptable.