Why employers are firing workers who are too obese

Employers have a duty to offer employees every chance to be fit and healthy but, increasingly, they are having to stop offering wellbeing opportunities and start firing.

An example of this was seen earlier this year in Egypt. TV presenters who were deemed to be overweight were suspended for a month and told to shift the pounds.

This problem is particularly worse in Australia, the Daily Mail and Herald Sun reports, where two out of three residents are now overweight. As a result, firms are claiming that heavy workers are causing workplace injuries, illnesses and an increased risk to businesses.  

Andrew Douglas, Principal – Workplace Relations at Macpherson Kelley, told Herald Sun that his law firm deals with a weight-related case every single week, with most cases being settled outside of court.