Is Weight a Barrier to Workplace Success?
Once a status symbol of wealth or prosperity, weight is now looked upon in the completely opposite way. In America, for instance, the popular societal belief is the conception that “thin is in—“a way of thinking that expands into the workplace, classroom, social circles – you name it. Obesity in fact is one of the biggest health epidemics that the nation is facing – and one that shows little sign of improvement. Online obesity consultations are on the rise as online doctors offer accurate diagnoses and treatments directly through the phone or Internet.
In the workplace specifically, part of the reason that employers frown upon anyone is overweight in their company is the fact that medical benefits can cost up to 52% more on average than those of their average weighted coworkers. However, the standard opposition for being overweight in the workplace is due to the belief that, in the corporate world, presentation is everything. Though job performance should be the ultimate deciding factor in workplaces, appearance accounts for just as much – if not more. If one job candidate is regarded as a person of ideal weight, height, etc., and does a decent job on a presentation or project; and the other job candidate is overweight but does a slightly better job on the presentation or project, chances are that nine times out of 10, the thinner candidate will land the position, promotion, and/or praise over the heavier one – even though there was no significant difference in quality or information presented.
Although the general consensus is that weight should in no way be a barrier in the workplace-particularly for women; it sadly is. Size certainly does seem to matter to administrators not only in the United States, but around the globe, attributing to the old age saying that “appearance is everything.” People who look the part of an “ideal” woman (i.e. the way that society presently believes a woman should look) seem to securing better promotions, jobs, and pay than their obese coworkers.
Additionally, women of today are still reported to be making up to 20% less than men who are doing similar, if not the same, jobs as them; making the corporate world a tough place for women to compete already. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2007, women were paid only 77 cents for every dollar a man is paid – and the figures are even worse for minority women. The added scrutiny of people’s image and weight makes the workplace seem cruel and unforgiving if you are the wrong end of the weight spectrum. Not only are women competing with men for equality in the workplace; but now they are in competition with their thinner female coworkers as well.
Online physicians are well aware of the stress this causes their overweight female patients, and in addition to offering online obesity consultations, they will offer stress management consultation services as well.
According to a study published in the British Journal Equal Opportunities International, overweight women were found to be greatly underrepresented in Fortune 1000 CEOs. In comparison to the general population, female CEOs were much thinner on average, with few overweight women and even fewer obese ones. Just 5 to 22% of the female CEOs were overweight, a figure less than the 29% on average present in the population; and only 5% were obese, compared to a general population containing 38%. The study thereby suggests that weight discrimination may play a significant role for business women striving to get ahead. Study findings also suggest that people are more critical of a woman’s body than a man’s, and women, in general, are subject to harsher weight standards than their male peers. What can thus be speculated is that the lower bar for women’s weight is negatively impacting their incomes, contributing to the wage gap between the genders.
KoolDocs.com provides online doctor consultations and prescriptions, which include online obesity consultations and medical services, as well as doctors’ excuses for work or school. For an online doctor, prescription, or doctors’ note or excuse, call KoolDocs.com today at 1-800-378-0086. Like this article? Add it to your favorite social bookmarks.
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