Have you been treated unfairly or discriminated against at work because of your weight? 

Our society is quick to blame and judge people about their weight and body size, which can lead to prejudice and unfair treatment. Unfortunately, fatphobia extends to the workplace where weight stigma is common. Workplace weight stigma can include negative attitudes, verbal comments, or harassment from coworkers or supervisors. It can also include being overlooked for promotions, denied other opportunities, or wrongfully terminated. If you experience discrimination at work because of your body size, there are several options to consider. 

Speak to Someone at Work

First, see if your organization has a workplace anti-bullying policy or anti-discrimination policy. This may be available in your employee handbook or on HR webpages. If so, there may be a formal complaint process you can follow. 

If you experience weight stigma from your coworkers, you can discuss it with a supervisor, Human Resources Officer, or Union Official. Before these conversations, you should write down the events that occurred and your concerns. That way, you can share key details and express yourself clearly. 

Legal Options Following Weight Discrimination

In the U.S., there is very little legal protection against weight discrimination. In most places in the country, it remains legal to treat people unfairly because of their body weight or size. Exceptions include Michigan and Washington where state-wide discrimination bans have been enacted, as well as a handful of cities across the country that have passed local laws to ban weight discrimination, such as New York City, San Francisco, and others. 

Rudd Center research on this topic, led by Rebecca Puhl, shows that most people are in favor of laws banning weight discrimination. For over a decade, this research shows that as many as 2/3 of Americans support legislation to add body weight and size as a protected class in state Civil Rights laws, and to ban weight discrimination in the workplace. However, until such policies are passed more widely, legal recourse remains limited. 

Consider Other Forms of Support 

Outside of the workplace, it may be helpful to talk to a friend or family member about your experiences. Talking through a painful situation with someone you trust can help you decide what to do next. 

Additionally, you may want to speak with a mental health professional. They can help you talk about your feelings and find healthy ways to cope with the situation. You can also consider support groups for people who have experienced weight stigma, or joining national advocacy organizations that fight weight stigma such as the Obesity Action Coalition, National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, or Association for Size Diversity and Health.  

Learn more: https://uconnruddcenter.org/research/weight-bias-stigma/weightbias-employers/