Protestors have gathered outside of the Mayor of London’s house to campaign against the prejudice being exercised against overweight employees.
According to the Size Acceptance Movement, 93% of employers would rather employ a ‘thin person’ than overweight workers, regardless of qualifications. The Movement are now lobbying outside Boris Johnson’s house in the hope that weight will be given discriminatory protection.
"I have been discriminated against. I am a YMCA qualified fitness instructor, but I have gone to jobs and been laughed off the premises," argued campaigner, Kathryn Szordecki.
"This is a very common event. It is not about who you are or what you have done, it is just about the way you look."
The campaigners are calling on the capital’s Mayor to introduce ‘fatism’ laws like those exercised in San Francisco. In the American state it is an offence to exercise opinion against overweight individuals in housing and employment sectors, with doctors even banned from suggesting a patient lose weight if it is against their wishes.
Arguments in support of the Movement have agreed that weight should be considered for discrimination legislation when individuals can not alter their girth willingly.
"Not everyone has a free choice about controlling their weight," argues Dr Iain Campbell of charity Weight Concern.
"For instance, people in inner cities are much more likely to be overweight because of poorer education, poorer housing and poorer job opportunities."
However, in the UK size is not a characteristic protected under discrimination legislation, such as religious beliefs, race or sexual preference, unless it has reached the level of obesity when it may then be considered a disability.
"Most people would agree that no one should be verbally or physically abused because of how they look," stated Bettina Bender, Employment Law Partner at CM Murray.
"But from an employment law perspective granting employees special protection on the grounds of their size would seem a protection too far."
