Weight and Height Discrimination Bans Gain Momentum

Jun 6, 2023, 9:10 AM

(From HR Dive) On May 26, New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed legislation that will ban discrimination based on body size by adding weight and height to the list of protected categories such as race, sex and religion. The law has an exemption for when a person's weight or height would prevent them from performing a job's essential requirements, the mayor said. The law is slated to take effect in November. Six other cities — including San Francisco and Washington, D.C. — and the state of Michigan, also have similar bans on height and weight discrimination.

Weight discrimination is widespread, but reportedly hits women the hardest, especially women of color. A study by Vanderbilt University found overweight women earning $5.25 less per hour, a so-called wage penalty.