Teh One Who Knocks
07-21-2014, 12:03 PM
By Ross Kaniuk - The Daily Star
http://i.imgur.com/yI1A5Wv.jpg
They will also qualify for priority parking as obesity is regarded as a disability.
And companies concerned about their image such as beauty salons could be sued if they do not employ roly-polys.
The laws for overweight workers are to be imposed by the European Court of Justice.
To be covered by the new laws people must be classed as *severely obese, with a body mass index of more than 40 (normal is 20-25).
There are an estimated one *million people in Britain who would qualify.
Lawyers warned that companies face big bills as excessively obese employees could sue if they were not looked after.
It would not matter if the worker’s own unhealthy lifestyle had led to them piling on the pounds.
Under the Equality Act 2010 they would be disabled people.
The decision by the Luxembourg court’s advocate-general will go to the full court, where it is likely to be adopted.
Nick Elwell-Sutton, an employment lawyer from Clyde & Co, said companies might have to look at supplying special items such as reinforced office chairs.
The test case was brought by Karsten Kaltoft, a child-minder who weighed more than 25 stone and was employed by his local authority in Denmark.
The authority sacked him *because it said he was no longer able to perform his duties.
On one occasion he needed the help of a colleague to tie a child’s shoelace.
http://i.imgur.com/yI1A5Wv.jpg
They will also qualify for priority parking as obesity is regarded as a disability.
And companies concerned about their image such as beauty salons could be sued if they do not employ roly-polys.
The laws for overweight workers are to be imposed by the European Court of Justice.
To be covered by the new laws people must be classed as *severely obese, with a body mass index of more than 40 (normal is 20-25).
There are an estimated one *million people in Britain who would qualify.
Lawyers warned that companies face big bills as excessively obese employees could sue if they were not looked after.
It would not matter if the worker’s own unhealthy lifestyle had led to them piling on the pounds.
Under the Equality Act 2010 they would be disabled people.
The decision by the Luxembourg court’s advocate-general will go to the full court, where it is likely to be adopted.
Nick Elwell-Sutton, an employment lawyer from Clyde & Co, said companies might have to look at supplying special items such as reinforced office chairs.
The test case was brought by Karsten Kaltoft, a child-minder who weighed more than 25 stone and was employed by his local authority in Denmark.
The authority sacked him *because it said he was no longer able to perform his duties.
On one occasion he needed the help of a colleague to tie a child’s shoelace.