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04-09-2012, 10:00 PM
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Hospital Places BMI Limit On Future Employees
Citizens Medical Center in Victoria sets BMI limit of 35 for future employees
Posted: Apr 9 2012 6:26 PM CDT Updated: Apr 9 2012 6:35 PM CDT
Victoria, Texas - A Victoria hospital is telling seriously overweight people not to apply when looking for work. A new hiring policy at Citizens Medical Center in Victoria limits employment to people with a body mass index less than 35.
"The majority of our patients are over 65 and they have expectations that cannot be ignored in terms of personal appearance," said Dan Brown, Citizens Medical Center Chief, in a statement.
"Patients want people who help them who know what they are doing. They really care very little about their size, their national origin," said attorney John Griffin. While race, age and religion are protected in Texas, weight is not. But attorney Griffin said a recent amendment to the American Disabilities Act now now includes impairments, and that does cover obesity. "It would be hard to argue everyone with a 35 BMI can't work here. That is going to sift out some people that have metabolic problems," said Griffin.
Brown defended the policy. "We have the ability as an employer to characterize our process and to have a policy that says what's best for our business," he said. Current employees with a BMI of 35 or more are not fired, but offered assistance in getting the number down. Another problem many health experts are pointing out is using body mass index to predict health. BMI considers all weight the same and does not distinguish between men and women.
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved.
Hospital Places BMI Limit On Future Employees
Citizens Medical Center in Victoria sets BMI limit of 35 for future employees
Posted: Apr 9 2012 6:26 PM CDT Updated: Apr 9 2012 6:35 PM CDT
Victoria, Texas - A Victoria hospital is telling seriously overweight people not to apply when looking for work. A new hiring policy at Citizens Medical Center in Victoria limits employment to people with a body mass index less than 35.
"The majority of our patients are over 65 and they have expectations that cannot be ignored in terms of personal appearance," said Dan Brown, Citizens Medical Center Chief, in a statement.
"Patients want people who help them who know what they are doing. They really care very little about their size, their national origin," said attorney John Griffin. While race, age and religion are protected in Texas, weight is not. But attorney Griffin said a recent amendment to the American Disabilities Act now now includes impairments, and that does cover obesity. "It would be hard to argue everyone with a 35 BMI can't work here. That is going to sift out some people that have metabolic problems," said Griffin.
Brown defended the policy. "We have the ability as an employer to characterize our process and to have a policy that says what's best for our business," he said. Current employees with a BMI of 35 or more are not fired, but offered assistance in getting the number down. Another problem many health experts are pointing out is using body mass index to predict health. BMI considers all weight the same and does not distinguish between men and women.
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved.