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..how much empathy can I have for the chronically obese?



I'm not small by any means.. I need to drop some weight. But the "new guy" I'm training this week is... large. Quite large. Probably about 6'1" and has to be pushing 350 pounds.



He's older... getting near retirement. He's a pretty good worker even for knowing this is a temporary job.



But in the confined spaces we have to work in, his size is a total hinderance. He has to observe my work to learn... but I can't move without bumping into him and he has trouble doing what needs to be done. I'm carrying around devices... up to 4 at a time which significantly widens the amount of space I need to move them and I can barely get past him without clobbering him with one.



I am using up to 3 laptops at one time and if he stands close enough to observe, he completely blocks my access and view to one or two of them...



It is a problem and not just for me. Especially on this job. He had significant trouble getting in and out of my rental car - we are not allowed to reserve large cars or SUV's and sometimes he's going to get something small. Regional Jets are not size friendly, especially the EMB-145's... odds are he is wider than the aisle in one of those.



What is the kind way to say to the hiring contractor... he will be handicapped and less efficient than everyone else just because of his size? I do feel bad for having to recognize these things... but... they are the facts.

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Blackheresy
00:57 Feb 12 2009

Would the hiring folks kick in for lipo?

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moonkissed
16:52 Feb 12 2009

unfortunately i don't think there is damn thing you can do. the Americans with Disabilities Act does protect the obese, don't ask me why.

your company has i am guessing a 90 day period in which to train him, use him and fire him for no cause? after that they have to find issues with job performance or filed customer complaints NOT related to his size.

it is a double edged sword. on one hand they can restrict him to work in areas close to where he lives meaning that he would presumably use his own vehicle. this would severely decrease his workload or not and possibly force him to quit on his own.

otherwise the employer has to make every possible effort to accommodate him and this means yes possibly allowing him to rent a larger vehicle.

i find that part doubtful though as it also means paying for his extra seat on the airplane which increases the cost of putting him to work on remote locations and again puts him working within driving distance of his own home.

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birra
17:08 Feb 12 2009

He's a contractor. I doubt any of those laws apply.

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Morrigon
18:32 Feb 14 2009

No one can just say "You're too fat, you can't work." but I'm pretty sure a company may tell a contractor who has to buy TWO plane tickets because he's too fat to fit in one seat that his excessive expenses will not work for them.



If you can't fit in the space where you're supposed to be working, that's just a problem. They could buy a foot stool for a midget, but how do you compress a fat person?

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...the sushi place I wanted to go to was closed... settled for four double-Makers on the rocks and a sammich at the hotel bar...



....mmmm... Makers...

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brileybeauford666
01:32 Dec 14 2010

I agree....mmmmmm Makers.

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...I read some peoples' journals and the only comment I can think of is...



"...roll your 10 sided die and then cast the spell of (insert spell name here)... I'm sure everything will be ok..."



FEH.. I'm going to go get sushi.

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sahahria
01:07 Feb 10 2009

*drools*



That's it- next time I visit you're taking me to the sushi place you goto!

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