I'm Being Harassed at Work Because of My Weight: What Can I Do? By Dan Atkerson on November 15, 2023

Millions of Americans struggle with their weight, and numerous people are medically obese. A person should not be judged by their weight or any aspect of their appearance. It is especially cruel when a person experiences weight-based discrimination or harassment in the workplace. Frequently, victims of Dallas workplace discrimination feel alone and unsure of their options regarding mistreatment.

Individuals being harassed at work because of their weight who wonder what to do about it can learn more about their options from employment discrimination lawyer Dan A. Atkerson. Mr. Atkerson works with employees from Allen, Plano, and Frisco, TX, to defend their employee rights and hold employers accountable for employment law violations.

Recognizing Workplace Harassment

Many workers fail to take action when they experience workplace harassment or discrimination. That is partly because they are unsure of their options regarding mistreatment in the workplace. However, another big reason workers don’t act is they are not certain if they are experiencing harassment. It’s vital to recognize weight-based harassment and discrimination when it occurs, which may include the following actions:

Verbal teasing or name-calling based on weight
Telling jokes about weight
Verbal or physical bullying
Making any job decisions (hiring, firing, promotion, demotion, training, etc.) based on weight

What Should I Do If I’m Being Harassed At Work for My Weight?

No one should face any form of harassment or discrimination in the workplace. If an employee is experiencing weight-based harassment, there are several steps they should take: keep detailed records of the incidents, report the harassment to human resources, and consider hiring an employment discrimination lawyer.

Keep Detailed Records

A person accused of harassment or discrimination rarely accepts fault for their actions, which means claims turn into cases of he said/she said. To strengthen a workplace harassment or discrimination complaint, employees should keep detailed records of incidents. We advise workers to keep notes detailing what was said or done and when each incident occurred. If any other workers witnessed the event, that should be noted as well.

Report the Harassment

Incidents of workplace harassment or discrimination should be reported to a supervisor or the employee’s Human Resources (HR) department as soon as possible. HR should take action to stop the harassing behavior and possibly discipline the offending employee.

Consider Hiring an Employment Discrimination Lawyer

Individuals should consider hiring an employment discrimination lawyer if HR fails to intervene when an employee is being harassed or discriminated against, when harassment fails to stop, or when a person suffers damages related to harassment or discrimination. Even though there are no federal employment laws explicitly outlawing weight-based employment discrimination, employees have the right to a safe work environment. Mr. Atkerson can examine the details of a case to determine if workers have grounds for a harassment, discrimination, or hostile work environment claim against their employer.

Get In Touch

If you are experiencing weight-based harassment or discrimination in the workplace, attorney Dan A. Atkerson can help you consider your legal options. To discuss the details of your situation, contact our law firm online and schedule a legal consultation at your earliest convenience.