While Australians are lodging discrimination claims alleging they are missing out on deserved employment opportunities because of their looks, a US study shows weight is one of the key factors employers consider when conducting job interviews.
New research from Ohio’s Bowling Green State University shows overweight people who went through in-person interviews were 27 per cent less likely to be hired than their trimmer competition, the Daily mail reports.
The study showed that while those who were overweight missed out on opportunities when called in for a sit-down interview, but saw no difference in acceptance rates between the two groups when telephone interviews were conducted.
One commentator has pointed out that overweight candidates may not even make it to the interview chair with internet searches and social media profiles allowing employers to judge prospective employees on their looks before they have a chance to make an in person impression.
The study’s co-author Jacob Burmeister said it was possible some interviewers have built-in prejudices against overweight applicants, viewing them as lazy or undisciplined, but suggested it could also be possible that overweight candidates may perform poorly in interviews because they are uncomfortable and less confident.
A University of Sydney report to be released today explores “lookism” as a new form of employment discrimination, warning appearance has joined racism and sexism as a form of workplace discrimination.
In the past five years, 96 workers have alleged discrimination on the grounds of appearance such as being “ugly”, News Limited reports.
More than 100 employees have lodged discrimination claims on the grounds of obesity.
