Height & Weight

dmg24

freakyogre wrote: »

I was asked for my height and weight when I applied for an admin job with the police, I suppose that's slightly different, but it was still 'just' an admin job.

Interesting that you mention this example - I know someone that was turned down for the 999 call centre because of his weight (he is BIG!). They operated long shifts, and there was no way that he could sit comfortably at the desks for any length of time. As there was no medical/ disability reason for his weight, there was no obligation on the employer to make reasonable adaptations for him, so they withdrew the job offer.

456789

borders_dude wrote: »

Why would you be so concerned about providing this information?

I'm not just fail to see how it is relevant at all

kunekune wrote: »

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.

I am not really concerned - infact I am a thin person - but still don't see why it is relevant - btw I am a 'he'

mountainofdebt wrote: »

It might be that the company has private health care for its staff.

OP - what sort of company is it?

a financial services company - if they have private health care should not this wait until you are offered a position instead of asking for all this info (they asked other questions about have you had heart problems etc. too) until you get offered a job?

gilligansyle

456789 wrote: »

Iif they have private health care should not this wait until you are offered a position instead of asking for all this info (they asked other questions about have you had heart problems etc. too) until you get offered a job?

Agree, it is not relevant at application form stage. If you get as far as an interview, they will have some idea of your height and weight. I have been asked this question in the past, but that was as part of a medical questionnaire after being appointed (and it was made clear that appointment was 'subject to medical')

After all, many organisations have a questionnaire about race, ethnicity, sexual orientation etc. but this is used for monitoring and is usually not part of the application process.

scooterchick

dmg24 wrote: »

You keeping quoting 'employment law' scooterchick. Can you back this up with the relevant statute please?

Unfortunately no I can't, given time I would have tried to find some link but time was something I did not have when I made that post. I'm still sure though and if someone wants to prove me wrong well they're more than welcome, go ahead, make my day

bumpoowee

gilligansyle wrote: »

Agree, it is not relevant at application form stage. If you get as far as an interview, they will have some idea of your height and weight. I have been asked this question in the past, but that was as part of a medical questionnaire after being appointed (and it was made clear that appointment was 'subject to medical')

If it's one of the criteria for the job it's always relevant. I'd rather not waste my time going for an interview only to be told to !!!! off cos they weren't expecting a 7 ft 10 sumo.

bumpoowee

Would also say in my last workplace a number of people had a long time off for gastric band ops. If I was an employer I'd avoid employing these people in the first place as you do in general find grossly overweight people are less productive than physically fit people (no doubt someone will take offence but I don't care I live in the real world) and it doesn't help your quality of service to customers when your staff go awol for months at a time.

scooterchick

bumpoowee wrote: »

Would also say in my last workplace a number of people had a long time off for gastric band ops. If I was an employer I'd avoid employing these people in the first place as you do in general find grossly overweight people are less productive than physically fit people (no doubt someone will take offence but I don't care I live in the real world) and it doesn't help your quality of service to customers when your staff go awol for months at a time.

That may be so but surely that would become apparent at interview? When you have to dig out the re-inforced chair for the interviewee you would notice something? No need to ask this kind of personal question at application stage?

mancitychick

scooterchick wrote: »

That may be so but surely that would become apparent at interview? When you have to dig out the re-inforced chair for the interviewee you would notice something? No need to ask this kind of personal question at application stage?

Then you waste your time and theirs interviweing them if you don't want a "larger peson"!

Having said that BMI is misleading, as a weightlifter for example, would more than likely be classed as obese.

scooterchick

mancitychick wrote: »

Then you waste your time and theirs interviweing them if you don't want a "larger peson"!

Having said that BMI is misleading, as a weightlifter for example, would more than likely be classed as obese.

Then you're getting into discrimnation territory if you don't interview someone based purely on their BMI.

Savvy_Sue

But I didn't think we had any weight discrimination legislation - yet?