Obese people could be allowed to turn up for work an hour later - if a government advisor gets his way.
The latest figures from the NHS have revealed that there were more than 43,200 admissions to hospitals across the West Midlands in 2016/17 where obesity was a factor. That’s up from 38,096 admissions the year before - an increase of 13% - and in some parts of the region the rise has been even sharper
In the same year, at least 607 people in the West Midlands had to undergo bariatric surgery because of obesity - up from 502 in 2015/16.Bariatric surgery can be performed to help with weight loss, and can include stomach stapling, gastric bypasses and sleeve gastrectomy.
Now, a leading employment specialist has said fat workers should be allowed to turn up late and be protected under discrimination law, the Mirror is reporting. The plan could see obese office workers miss the rush hour commute, demand an extra large chair or even work from home.
A UK government advisor will propose changes at the European Congress on Obesity in Vienna as new research shows Brits are among most fat-ist in Europe.
He will tell 2,000 medics that obesity should be classed as a “protected characteristic” allowing staff to sue fat shaming bosses.
Prof Bevan, head of HR research at the Institute for Employment Studies, said: “We need to coordinate our efforts so that people who want to work can do so.
“It can be working time, it can be having a bit of understanding that someone might need to turn up at 10am because they have trouble with transport or anxiety about transport."
Another study found one in five Brits said they would object to an obese person marrying in to their family. A third study by the European Association for the Study of Obesity found more than half of UK doctors thought overweight patients lacked willpower. One in three said they were too lazy to keep weight off.
Prof Bevan added: “Some people say that obesity is the last characteristic that its still socially acceptable to make fun of"
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/obese-workers-could-allowed-turn-14709240.amp
