Would You Fire an Employee for Refusing to Disclose Her Weight?

[SoulManX]

http://www.inc.com/news/articles/2010/08/employee-fired-for-refusing-to-reveal-weight.html

 

[Metamorpho1977]

She's a librarian, so it's no loss. I wouldn't fire someone for not telling their weight though.

 

[chaseter]

I would if I owned a restaurant. They will be eating into my profit margins...literally.

 

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

This is just stupid. The article even said FEMA RECOMMENDATIONS!! Not requirements. It didn't have to be done.

 

[Ugfugly]

Depends on the job. Where I work we have ladders and equipment which holds a max weight of 250lbs. We have to weigh our bigger employees because it's required by OSHA and if they can't shed or meet that max they are fired.

In the case cited above that seems a little extreme if it's just for identification purposes, I thought that's what picture IDs were for. Duh!

 

[Harls]

Yeah, I agree that it depends on the job for safety reasons. Though with this lady, I don't think she should have been fired. Her picture, name, height and maybe a few other typical things on an ID card would be fine, seriously.

 

[ChickenScratch]

It depends. Certain businesses wants to have a certain look. My mother is a banker at a casino, and I know for a fact they don't hire waitresses larger than a size 6. I've seen the postings for jobs in the Human Resources office, it specifically says 00-6.

 

[kane9321]

for safety reasons..I'm sorry but yes

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

I disagree with her firing, but I also disagree with her hardline stance against disclosing that information.

Invasion of privacy? To ask for your weight? For ID purposes? Really?!

 

[Harls]

It depends. Certain businesses wants to have a certain look. My mother is a banker at a casino, and I know for a fact they don't hire waitresses larger than a size 6. I've seen the postings for jobs in the Human Resources office, it specifically says 00-6.

Couldn't you tell by looking at them if they are larger than a size 6? But that's different, too - I understand that certain businesses need to have certain standards for their employees, but a librarian? Also, asking if they are a certain size is different from asking how much you weigh.

 

[katie_girl09]

I disagree with her firing, but I also disagree with her hardline stance against disclosing that information.

Invasion of privacy? To ask for your weight? For ID purposes? Really?!

My thoughts exactly.

 

[SuperFerret]

I would fire people for the most arbitrary reasons, but I like getting sued, so to each their own.

 

[ChickenScratch]

Couldn't you tell by looking at them if they are larger than a size 6? But that's different, too - I understand that certain businesses need to have certain standards for their employees, but a librarian? Also, asking if they are a certain size is different from asking how much you weigh.

These are internal postings I'm talking about. Before they are even put on the web site for people to look at. It's all written on a board before it's posted. Copied from the web site it reads "Are you willing and able to properly wear the uniform for the Cocktail Server position which is available in ladies sizes 00 through 6?"

As for the librarian thing, there are safety issues. Ladders hold only so much weight and if they need her exact weight for their files then that's just that. Sure she may look light enough, but you can't write in a file "she looks skinny enough."

 

[Figs]

I would if I owned a restaurant. They will be eating into my profit margins...literally.

Hahaha!

In all honesty though, I wouldn't. I have a problem with how many people are incredibly fat and they don't give a **** and then you have those loser enablers telling them it's ok to be that size...even though the person is heading towards a heart attack. With that being said, it's not necessary to know their weight for most jobs.

I would fire people for the most arbitrary reasons, but I like getting sued, so to each their own.

Do the people who try to sue you have "accidents" before it goes to court? t:

 

[CConn]

Well, you kinda want to make sure they won't fall through the floor.

 

[SuperFerret]

Do the people who try to sue you have "accidents" before it goes to court? t:

No, no accidents, but many have incidents, and a few have had occurrences.

 

[Honey Vibe]

You have to have a reason in writing to let someone go. Sounds like she was fired "officially" for being non-compliant, but her general work attitude is the real reason.

 

[coreymb16]

No I don't think it's any of my business of what their weight is. It's up him or her. Just think if the boss was in their shoes.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

You have to have a reason in writing to let someone go. Sounds like she was fired "officially" for being non-compliant, but her general work attitude is the real reason.

Sounds like it. If someone throws such a pissy fit over disclosing her weight for ID purposes, I'd hate to hear what else she throws a fit over.

 

[terry78]

You women and your weight secrets, I swear. I respect a female that has no issues with saying what she weighs when axed.

 

[ChickenScratch]

Weight and age, what is the deal? You were born so you have a birthday and you have physical mass so you must have weight, it's not like it's a secret.

 

[terry78]

If you weigh over 100 pounds but don't look it, it wouldn't make a difference unless the dude was real anal.

 

[Hotwire]

Depends on the job. Where I work we have ladders and equipment which holds a max weight of 250lbs. We have to weigh our bigger employees because it's required by OSHA and if they can't shed or meet that max they are fired.

In the case cited above that seems a little extreme if it's just for identification purposes, I thought that's what picture IDs were for. Duh!

Was going to say this, but you beat me to it.

 

[Jennifer Walters]

If the woman has a driver's license, she really have no problem disclosing such information for I.D. purposes.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

If the woman has a driver's license, she really have no problem disclosing such information for I.D. purposes.

I think that's the point the article was making - there are some states, I believe the one this incident happened included - where they don't ask for ID, stated reason being that it was too much of a hassle because too many people lied about it.

If you weigh over 100 pounds but don't look it, it wouldn't make a difference unless the dude was real anal.

Shoot, there ain't nothing wrong with 100+ pound girls anyways. It ain't like 100+ pounds means she's fat or anything.

My sister-in-law is a perfect example. She's over 100 pounds, but she still looks great. She doesn't look like a 36 year old woman that's given birth to 2 children.