Obesity Discrimination and Workplace Practices to Prevent Obesity

Öz

Obesity is an increasing health problem all over the world. In many countries, employers are seen as an important factor in the fight against obesity. Obese individuals may be subjected to discrimination in the form of hiring, promotion, wage increase and dismissal. Obesity can directly affect worker productivity. Productivity losses manifest themselves in the form of economic losses. In this study, it is aimed to determine whether overweight individuals are subjected to discrimination in the workplace, the effect of obesity on the productivity of employees, what kind of incentives from weight management programs can be effective to prevent obesity in the workplace, and whether employers can be an effective factor in combating obesity. In the research using the case study method, the steel-metal business line, where heavy labor is used intensively, was selected as the unit of analysis. The data were collected using the explanatory sequential design method, one of the mixed method research designs. According to the results of the study, it was observed that employees were not discriminated against in the workplace due to their overweight. It has been found that overweight employees experience productivity losses, are more prone to work accidents, and experience productivity losses in the form of extra leave use due to their excess weight. It was found that incentives such as free gym membership, vacations, incentives for hobby-based activities, extra days off and bonuses per weight lost can be effective in weight management programs. According to the results of the research, it is thought that employer-oriented policies can be an effective factor in preventing obesity and can be effective in reducing productivity losses in the economy by affecting worker productivity in the long run.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Obesity
• Obesity Discrimination
• Workplace Practices

Obezite Ayrımcılığı ve Obeziteyi Önlemeye Yönelik İşyeri Uygulamaları

Öz

Obezite tüm dünyada artış gösteren bir sağlık problemidir. Birçok ülkede obezite ile mücadelede işverenlerde önemli bir faktör olarak görülmektedir. Obez bireyler işyerlerinde işe alım, terfi, ücret artışı ve işten çıkarma biçiminde görülen ayrımcılığa maruz kalabilmektedirler. Obezite işçi verimliliğine doğrudan etki edebilmektedir. Verimlilik kayıpları ekonomik kayıplar biçiminde kendini göstermektedir. Bu araştırmada fazla kilolu bireylerin işyerlerinde ayrımcılığa maruz kalıp kalmadıkları, obezitenin çalışanların verimliliklerine etkisi, işyerlerinde obeziteyi engellemek için kilo yönetim programlarından hangi tür teşviklerin etkili olabileceği ve işverenlerin obezite ile mücadele etkin bir faktör olarak yer alıp alamayacağının tespit edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Örnek olay yönteminin kullanıldığı araştırmada analiz birimi olarak ağır emek gücünün yoğun kullanıldığı çelik-metal iş kolu seçilmiştir. Araştırmada veriler karma yöntem araştırma desenlerinden açıklayıcı ardışık desen yöntemi ile toplanmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre çalışanlar işyerinde fazla kilolarından ötürü ayrımcılığa uğramadıkları görülmüştür. Fazla kilolu çalışanların verimliliklerinde kayıplar yaşadığı, iş kazalarına daha açık oldukları ve aşırı kilolarına bağlı olarak ekstra izin kullanımı biçiminde görülen üretkenlik kayıpları yaşadığı tespit edilmiştir. Çalışanlar kilo yönetim programlarında ücretsiz spor salonu üyeliği, tatil, hobiye dayalı aktivitelere teşvik, ekstra izin günü ve kaybedilen kilo başına prim gibi teşviklerin etkili olabileceği tespit edilmiştir. Araştırmada sonuçlarına göre işveren odaklı politikaların obeziteyi önlemede etkin bir faktör olabileceği ve uzun vadede işçi verimliliğine etki ederek ekonomide yaşanan verimlilik kayıplarını azaltmada etkili olabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Obezite
• Obezite Ayrımcılığı
• İşyeri Uygulamaları

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