NYC to pass anti-weight & height discrimination bill
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — New York City is in the process of passing a new bill that will make it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees based on their height or weight.
The legislation is set to amend the city’s administrative code and will be voted on in the coming weeks. Protected categories such as age, race, and gender are already included in the bill, with an exemption for employers who “need to consider height or weight in employment decisions.”
The bill’s proponents said that physical appearance should not be a factor in employment decisions.
Stacie Haller, the chief career advisor at ResumeBuilder, also stated that a “significant cohort of the population” feel they are being discriminated by the “physical aspects of their being.”
A recent survey by ResumeBuilder.com revealed that 36% of American workers experienced discrimination in the workplace due to their weight, height, or level of attractiveness. Of this group, 58% said this resulted in them losing motivation, 40% reported mental health issues, and 26% said it reduced productivity.
Meanwhile, among those who identified as obese, a staggering 71% said they had experienced weight discrimination.
“We all have to pay attention to what happens in the hiring process and across the board and work to mitigate any forms of bigotry or stereotyping in the process,” Haller added.
Other cities, such as San Francisco and Madison, Wisconsin, have banned weight discrimination, while Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Jersey are also considering similar policies.
