Sales managers are more likely to hire employees of ideal weight to fill the best sales positions while obese sales people are placed in the worst areas, new Ball State University study says.
A total of 122 store managers from the Midwest took part in this study that showed obesity discrimination exists in the sales industry, said Ramon Avila, director of Ball State's H. H. Gregg Center for Professional Selling and who conducted the study with Shaheen Borna, a marketing professor.
"A study clearly shows these managers are giving attention to how these sales people look," Borna said.
The discrimination has gone on for years and is a national issue, Avila said.
However, the study is unique to others, Avila said.
Managers were asked to assign employees to territories based on an information sheet and two versions of a photo of the employee. The photos consisted of both male and female candidates -- one at ideal weight and the other obese. They all had the same facial shots and clothing, but used computer morphing to create an obese person.
Sales managers were given three options. With each candidate, they had to place the person in an ideal place, a less ideal place, or reject them all together.
The results show that discrimiation against the obese is still prevelant, Avila said.
Evidence of discrimination is found at virtually every stage of the employment cycle, including selection, placement, compensation, promotion, discipline and discharge, American Obesity Association Web Site said.
The study also showed obesity discrimination is more likely to occur with obese women. Also, women sales managers were more harsh on female obese candidates than men, Borna said.
"You just have to fit the part," Avila said.
Body image is a major factor in the professional world, Associate Director of Career Center Sheila Spisak said.
Students venturing out for the first time and entering the real world need to be aware of their image as well as fit the criteria of the specific job, she said.
"Students need to be aware of how they present themselves," Spisak said.
Spisak suggests wearing clothes that are tailored to the specific body type and discourages tight clothing.
"A person can actually look larger if the clothes are too tight or ill-fitting," Spisak said.
As long as each applicant presents herself in the right light, everyone has a chance to get a great job, Spisak said.
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