BAE reaches settlement with man it fired allegedly for being fat

abc13 ^ | 25 July 2012 | unattributed

[smokingfrog]

SEALY, TX (KTRK) -- BAE Systems has agreed to pay a former employee at its Sealy facility who says he was fired for being fat.

We first talked to Ronald Kratz last fall, when the government sued BAE on his behalf. He says he couldn't believe what he was hearing when he was let go.

"The HR representative's exact words were 'We're letting you go because of your weight.'

[Nervous Tick]

>> “The HR representative’s exact words were ‘We’re letting you go because of your weight.’

There’s a lesson in there somewhere...

[Caulkhead]

“Kratz weighed 600 pounds when he was fired.”

“when the government sued BAE on his behalf”

“It also agreed to train company managers on disability discrimination laws”

Words fail me!

[rarestia]

There has to be a point at which a human being is no longer capable of working efficiently when they’re that big.

I tipped the scales at nearly 400 lb. in college, and it took me half the duration of a class to catch my breath after taking the stairs.

Thank God he dropped so much weight. I used to be 350 as well, and I can say that while it’s not the most comfortable way to live, compared to being over 600 lb, it has to be better.

[layman]

He weighed 600 pounds ! Was he actually able to do the job ?

[moovova]

” It also agreed to train company managers on disability discrimination laws...”

Fat is a disability? How about ugliness? I could make a million dollars.

The question I’d want to know the answer to...was he doing his job properly?

The guy lost 300 lbs though. Sounds like getting fired may’ve gone a long way to SAVE HIS LIFE! He should be paying them.

[TexasCajun]

Maybe the gov’ment should confiscate the man's eating utensils? ...you know, for his own good.

[skinkinthegrass]

" There’s a lesson in there somewhere..."yhea.... no more twinkles/pizzas for You!
workin' pays for your eatin'

[Buckeye McFrog]

“The HR representative’s exact words were ‘We’re letting you go because of your weight.’ There’s a lesson in there somewhere...

Yeah, don't hire the only HR Manager in America who is stupid enough to tell the truth about why someone is being let go.

[MaxMax]

Add another class of people who cannot be fired.

Can stupid be fired, because yes, that HR manager was stupid.

[Arrowhead1952]

He weighed 600 pounds ! Was he actually able to do the job ?

KLBJ was talking about this yesterday and this guy actually weighed 680 lbs. He wanted a seat belt extender for the forklift he was required to drive. One thing for sure, he was almost as heavy as the counterweight.

[Buckeye McFrog]

A seatbelt extender would likely be considered “reasonable accomodation” under the ADA. I think BAE is in some trouble here.

[fireman15]

I work with a 500 pound fire fighter. He is a nice guy and very intelligent but everyone knows that he is not capable of performing much of what is expected of us. When he drops over dead at a fire his family will probably sue the city.

[Carriage Hill]

In early 2010, I dropped 85-lbs (247 —> 162) in 4mos, and it was the easiest and best thing I’ve done in years: BP (syst/diast) dropped 61+pts, L-5/Sciatica Nerve pain disappeared and I’m fit, trim and feel 35 instead of 62.

Even better; I’ve now intentionally gone back-up to my normal BMI 175-lbs and stayed there so easily, by following an extremely easy set of 5 simple-to-follow, self-made guidelines. I’ve also helped 14 other family, friends and customers, who used to be much heavier than I was, get down to a more normal body weight, and away from Diabetes 1 & 2, BP, back/spine pain and a multitude of other problems.

Life is very good, once again.

[rarestia]

I went from 390 to 235 in 13 months back in 2007 and then I met my now-wife. My weight “normalized” around 305, which is where I’ve been most of my life. My biggest problem is beer. When I dropped all that weight, I was eating clean and never touched booze.

I’ll get back there now that I know how to do it, and I agree with you that it’s easy with the proper mindset and dedication.

[Carriage Hill]

“...390 to 235 in 13 months...”

WOW; you’re awesome, r!

I also gave up all alcohol on Jan 10, 2011; it’s been 18mos now.

I do miss *sipping* certain imported beers, single malt scotch, 30-yr brandy & cognac and very fine wines. My problem was *drinking* too many vodka/mixers and taking oxycontin 80mg (Rx for horrible sciatica back/leg pain) in combo, and becoming terribly addicted. Detox wasn’t pleasant, but I did it and have never looked back or slipped.

Perhaps someday, I’ll go back to *sipping* again, but never the opiates, even for the back pain. Bayer 325mg aspirin and cold-paks work just fine and dandy for me, now.

My 5 simple rules are thus:

1) No high-fructose corn syrup.
2) No white, refined sugar (use raw Stevia or Truvia sweetener).
3) No more gorging on 4-5-6-7 course meals w/ bottle of wine in between each course (I’m also a CIA-trained professional chef, in addition to being a “retired” farmer).
4) Eat large breakfast, smaller lunch and no dinner.
5) No food after 4pm; only Diet (5-cal) Ocean Spray Juices until 6pm, and Saltines/Peanut Butter Crackers.

Any ‘special rules’ of yours that you’d care to share?

[rarestia]

1) No simple sugars
2) Reduced intake of complex carbohydrates as the day progresses
3) Increased intake of proteins as the day progresses (no starches with dinner)
4) No alcohol
5) Eat 6 small meals throughout the day
6) Snack solely on proteins (jerky & nuts)
7) Drink a minimum of 1 gallon of water per day (minimum of 1 cup of hot green tea per day)
8) Minimum of 30 minutes exercise per day with at least 10 minutes of stretching/yoga poses

This is what I do, personally.

[Carriage Hill]

Good steps; thanks.