Fired for Gaining Weight?
By: JimmyFromQueens	Published: 02/19/2005
Ok, so I was recently chatting with some poker players online (yes, I've been playing Texas Hold Em a lot lately, but that's another story) who had mentioned they'd heard of something going on at the Borgata casino in Atlantic City regarding the waitresses and forcing them to keep a certain weight or something like that. I did a search online for the story and sure enough, I found it. ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa has told cocktail servers if they pack on too many pounds, they'll get an unpaid suspension to lose the weight — or be fired. The policy will apply to anyone gaining more than 7 percent of their body weight; weight gain related to pregnancy or a medical condition will be exempt, casino officials said. The company will pay to put the offender through a weight-loss program during the up-to-90-day suspension. The policy was laid out in a letter to employees last week — and has infuriated some women's advocates. "Women should not have to starve themselves just to keep their jobs," said Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Research Center for Women & Families, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group. "The policy places enormous stress on all the women and encourages eating disorders to reach a totally arbitrary goal." The casino, whose edgy marketing themes and sexy accents have helped bowl over the competition since opening in July 2003, contends there's nothing wrong with setting weight limits for its 210 costumed beverage servers — 160 servers dubbed Borgata Babes and 50 other male and female bartenders. A Borgata vice president, Cassie Fireman, said the policy clarifies existing appearance standards: that women servers should have "natural hourglass figures" and men "V-shaped torsos, broad shoulders and slim waists." No weight limits were ever set, however, she said. "Our costumed beverage servers are a huge part of our marketing and our branding image," she said. "We feel it's fair, we feel it's legal, we feel it's what our customers have come to expect at Borgata." Borgata Babes, who wear black, low-cut designer bustiers with crossing straps above the breasts, have appeared in pinup style photographs in the casino's calendar. Borgata officials refused to allow cocktail servers to be interviewed Thursday; one who was asked her opinion of the weight limits declined to comment. Local 54 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union has filed a grievance. Former Borgata Babe Lori Allen, 36, who resigned last month, said Borgata officials talked about weight limits long before they imposed them. "It's going to cause girls to binge, purge, whatever," she said. "It's already causing stress." Some gamblers don't think it's fair either. "So what if they gain a little weight? They're serving drinks, they're smiling. All people are interested in is gambling, anyway," said Karen DiCaprio, 41, of Philadelphia, who was sitting at a roulette table. Wow. This immediately brought to mind the Seinfeld episode where the owner of the diner would only hire waitresses with very large mammalian protruberances. Elaine, of course, freaked out and tried to get him sued for discrimination. If I remember correctly, the funny thing was that the police pretty much ignored her complaint, but were all seen eating in the diner at the end of the episode. So I'm thinking, does the casino have the right to do this? Casinos are all about money. They are built to make money. Their business is carefully structured around taking advantage of every edge against the players to get them to have a good time and at the same time exract as much money as possible out of them. Every single game in the casino that you play against the house is statistically geared in the house's favor. Even the best blackjack player could only hope to achieve 50% over the long haul. Poker is actually the exception, since you're not playing against the house, but other people. The casino, of course, still takes a small percentage (rake) out of every pot played, so they don't care who wins or loses. But they do care about people being happy enough to throw money around and walk out later feeling like they had a great time. Does looking at an attractive waitress add to this? Yes of course it does. But can they actually mandate that waitresses stay at a certain weight? Doesn't seem right if you've been on the job and then simply get that one dropped on you huh? But the article did say it was discussed beforehand and that it applies to both male and female servers. But what if the casino clearly states that it is part of their business model to hire only attractive wait staff in order to help ther business? And that they also specify these stipulations up front when someone is hired? It sees that some of the waitresses are part of a calendar that is sold, so I'm assuming the waitresses would get additional revenue from that - so at least there's some incentive. Also, strip clubs not only get away with hiring only attractive dancers (duh), but if you ever notice the waitresses in a strip club (well at least the one time I've ever gone to one), they're all quite attractive too. So some business are getting away with it. To take it a step further, at your job, if you were a hiring manager and you had two candidates to choose from for a single position and both of them had the exact same qualifications, but one was extremely attractive and the other was on the shovel team (hit in the face with a shovel back in high school), who would you choose? Obviously, we can see why the casinos would want to move in this direction, but is it legal? Is it moral? I'd love to hear some opinions on this one ... Editor's Note: Thanks to JSkills for adding the cool links to this ... Why not join the rest of us on the inside and get all of Goofball.com?
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Personal experience! (2 replies) started by jimbobiglotto (02.25.2005 0:57:22 AM EST) I was AT the borgata, myself, just a few weeks ago. This was before this story came out, but I must admit, call me sexist, but I was THRILLED to see casino cocktail babes in SKIMPY outfits again! and YES, they looked HOT. damn near every one of them. I did order more drinks, and probably played a little sloppier because of it. I DO think the cut-off is a bit extreme (7% body fat). I'm sure a 9 percenter would also look fine in one of those outfits, and the 7 percent is damn near unhealthy. However, if you are going to make a rule regarding weight/body fat limits, you have to draw a line somewhere. ...but back to the more important issue, I can't WAIT to go back to the borgata, and surely will whenever I'm in atlantic city again... HERE'S TO BOOBS IN TIGHT CORSETS!!! I'd say more, but you'd use it against me when I run for office!

I go with Big John (0 replies) started by dsk8er96 (02.24.2005 6:24:46 PM EST) As long as its disclosed when you start, then yes, I think its fair, part of qualifications. For the ones who have been working there, before the stipulation came into 'Force' then they should be grandfathered in, and besides, as roger said, they would find a reason to fire them and hire someone else. But, if you arent fit, you cant become a police officer, or a firefighter. So do the people in wheelchairs complain that they cant be firefighters or police officers, no, why, because they dont qualify. Just my thoughts anyway. Welcome to my world, Please have a seat..........DONT JUST SIT THERE DO SOMETHING!!!! DC

The bottom line (0 replies) started by tjshere (02.20.2005 10:52:29 AM EST) (no pun intended) for ANY business is profit. Will having only sexy, slender cocktail servers help increase the casinos profits? Of course it will. Men are driven by their schweens and are quite likely to order more drinks just for the chance to be near - and probably flirt with - a scantily-clad, attractive lady. Men are also much more likely to visit the casino in the first place if they know the cocktail waitresses are hot. The policly probably isn't fair, but the fact is, the waitresses will do a "better" job of bring money into the casino if the gamblers are attracted to them.

So then.... (0 replies) started by roger (02.19.2005 9:14:23 PM EST) why aren't big fat women raising hell because they can't be a Playboy centerfold? Personally I think they're being up front about it. You know damn good and well they could find reason to fire them and just hire someone else. So, do what the man says and keep your job.. You see these Bow-Flex commercials on TV but you never see anyone fat working out on one. Why is that? Is that not fair too?

well (0 replies)   started by bigjohn2 (02.19.2005 9:23:42 AM EST) I dont think its right but if they tell them up front when there hired I guess they would at least know..

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