Karsten Kaltoft, a 25st Danish childminder, was reportedly sacked by his employer, a local authority, due to being unable to complete his duties due to his size. The case was referred to the ECJ by the Danish Courts and could have significant implications for employers. Whilst UK law protects those who are deemed to have a ?protected characteristic? such as a disability, the question of whether this applies to the obese has rarely been tested in the past. Glenn Hayes, an employment law partner at Irwin Mitchell, said that if an obese person can be deemed disabled then employers may have to make what the law describes as ?reasonable adjustments? such as providing closer parking spaces, special desks or duties which involve reduced walking or travelling. He said: ?It may also have wider implications in that employers who make adverse assumptions about a ?fat? candidate or employee?s commitment or ability to perform the job, based purely on an individual?s weight, will be deemed to have directly discriminated against him or her and they will also need to take a more active role in ensuring adverse comments are not made against an individual to ensure that no harassment claim is successful.? in 2011, 24 per cent of men and 26 per cent of women in the UK were found to be obese. Related: Three key employment law changes for 2014
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.