This issue was brought up when the Chief Executive of Alexandra Health, which runs the Alexandra Hospital, mentioned that if a the weight of his staff would be a factor to be considered for promotion.
After reading the article, I have mixed side. On one hand, I am pleased to see that companies are taking notice of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. On the other hand, I feel that it is rather unfair to judge a person based on their outward appearance instead of their effectiveness as an employee.
It is undisputed that companies should indeed take care of their employee’s total well-being and not just be concerned about their productivity level. Many a times, especially in Singapore, people work long hours everyday just to make themselves an “indispensible” part of their companies and therefore earn enough to bring home and look after their family. This, of course, has side effects. With such high stress levels, many people resort to overeating amongst other things. Alexandra Hospital has done the right thing in taking notice of its employee’s physical well-being.
However, choosing employees for promotion is another matter altogether. Of course, in jobs where physical appearance is everything (like salesperson, flight attendant), it is agreeable that the person must have a minimum standard of looks or health. However, in the case of a nurse, is a hot figure everything that matters. That is not what I think in my opinion. The hospital can just transfer the nurse to a place where physical appearance does not matter, like the wards of patients with diseases and injuries non-related to obesity.
Regarding this issue, I feel that a compromise can be reached. Employers should not take into account the physical appearance in jobs where it is not so important. However, there can also allow employees whom are not so physically fit to take some time out to improve their fitness. This I feel is a “win-win” situation.
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