What is considered a violation of civil rights within a work setting?

Question

Recently, a president of a LARGE institution specifically called out one group of employees as being the "most overweight" of all the employees at a group meeting. It was horrible...not only for the overweight employees that were embarrassed and humiliated, but for everyone in the room.

I've read that "weight" doesn't typically fall under the protected categorized of discrimination, but clearly, these employees should have some legal rights to not be treated like this at a large group meeting? (HUNDREDS of employees, with the President the only one speaking at the podium).

Are there any legal issues here?

(And...this is not the type of company where weight has anything to do with job performance, such as in some fields that might require height/weight restrictions).

Answer 1

I wouldn't say rights, it sounds more like an insult.  That is all he did was insult his employees.  

Answer 2

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects obesity as a disability. The morbidly obese are more likely to be protected than the merely overweight are. Ironically, the result may be that disability laws will bar you from firing an obese employee because of perceived notions of his inability to do the job, but they don't prohibit discrimination on the basis of looks.

Answer 3

No employee can be harassed in the work place. They cannot be embarrassed in a negative way or in anyway made to feel under undue duress. Specifically employers have been enjoined from dealing with obesity in any way but confidentially and then they can only offer counseling or medical treatment if the employee has company insurance.