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    Brazil woman sues Weight Watchers for firing her

    SAO PAULO (AP) — A Brazilian woman is suing a weight-loss company that fired her for gaining weight.

    Brazil's Superior Labor Court says the woman is suing the Brazilian branch of Weight Watchers International that sacked her in 2006 because she gained more than 40 pounds (20 kilograms).

    The case reached Brazil's highest labor court last week after two regional courts ruled the company had the right to dismiss her.

    Court spokesman Augusto Fontenele says the hearing has been been suspended because one judge asked for more time to study the case.

    He says Weight Watchers claims it was justified to fire the woman because she had agreed to keep her weight at an ideal level.

    Weight Watchers' local office did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment.

     

    79 comments

    • D.  •  3 mths ago
      Weight watchers doesn't want someone working for them who isn't also working the program, successfully. This woman failed. I can't see this as discrimination. The woman signed the contract and accepted the rules, until she broke them.
      • Fritos4Free 3 mths ago
        That's making the assumption that she signed an employment contract.
      • katherine46 3 mths ago
        You cant make me believe that WW would not have a contract or and employee handbook stating the weight limit of it employees, they have been around to long to be that ignorant!!
      • karen k 3 mths ago
        I agree. Nobody should have to see someone gain a ton of weight when they're supposed to give people motivation. I should be a lifelong member of WW just based on how many times I've joined and last 3 weeks...
    • boKs*N*cAts  •  3 mths ago
      WW employees know the requirements in their employment contract, if you get fat you get canned...end of story! Stop you whining!
    • Ann  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      DUH....You're supposed to be a role model for the clients. It never ceases to amaze me, the amount of people filing frivolous lawsuits. I see it's not only in the US.
    • Tymorial  •  3 mths ago
      Um, the company revolves around losing weight and helping others lose weight. Doesn't it seem disingenuous that clients would be helped by someone who has clearly failed on the program? They are representatives of the company and therefore have an obligation to show that it works. I don't blame the company for firing, they have a business to run. This woman didn't hold up her end of the bargin. Period. God dmnit the level of entitlement and lack of personal responsibility in this country is a nightmare.
      • swimmer 3 mths ago
        it's not in this country!! the woman lives in Brazil which i believe is in South America.
      • Ann 3 mths ago
        Believe me Swimmer, you see this happening way more right here in the US.
    • Angela  •  Torrance, California  •  3 mths ago
      Once you get to you goal weight and then become a lifetime member you are eligible to work for them. You know from the very beginning that you have to stay +/-4 pounds from your goal weight to keep the job.
    • Danielle  •  3 mths ago
      While I'm not a fan of discrimination, this is the one area where I think it's acceptable. If overweight people work for a weight loss company, how does that company expect to stay in business? Makes it look like the program doesn't work, otherwise, why wouldn't the employees be using it too??
    • ms penny  •  3 mths ago
      I am a client of WW, I have been at and below my goal weight since March of last year and my reward is I do not have to pay for the meetings as long as I do not go 2 lbs over my goal wt, If I agreed to that and I did, I know as a spokeswoman she had to agree not to gain over goal, I recently found that the women who work have to maintain, so she knew very well not to PIG OUT and think she could hold that job.
    • shelikin  •  3 mths ago
      No kidding.. if it were any other type of business I'd agree with her, but come on, you're working for a company that endorses weight loss and maintaining a "healthy" weight. Maybe they could have offered to help you lose weight, but it's your own fault really.. I wouldn't go to a place to lose weight if the employees are overweight. You're bad advertising. sorry!
      • Ann 3 mths ago
        It's just like all of the obese dietitians you see in the hospitals and doctors offices.
    • Eppie Ruiz  •  Chicago, Illinois  •  3 mths ago
      If she signed a contract then broke the rules, Weight Watchers had every right to fire her. This lady is just looking to get some easy money. Find another job and watch what you eat.
    • Tiger222  •  Irvine, California  •  3 mths ago
      When I read the headline..I thought maybe she gained a few pounds because of the holidays...I think 40 lbs is not an example to other members that the program works
    • Brian  •  Beaverton, Oregon  •  3 mths ago
      And here's the 10th story this week on people suing, wanting to sue, or devious ways to sue. More losers!
    • DianaM  •  3 mths ago
      If she signed a contractor to maintain her weight at an "ideal level", I don't see that she has a leg to stand on. If she failed to maintain her weight it doesn't seem like this is discrimination.
    • KBQ  •  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  •  3 mths ago
      It's about the business and she apparently didn't follow their guidelines, so peace out.
    • juan chavez  •  Guayaquil, Ecuador  •  3 mths ago
      hey people I`m on a weight loss plan and gained 40 lbs, because I PIGGED out every night, so I`m sueing so I can lose weight. this sounds more like it
    • Toothless Shark  •  Irvine, California  •  3 mths ago
      haha , i guess common sense isn't all that common after all ... a blind man would have seen that firing coming
    • bats-in-belfry  •  3 mths ago
      Weight Watchers are after all weight watchers... Gain weight and watch out for you are going to get canned...

      In all fairness to her she was merely trying to expand in her position... Hey, now someone just had to say it... Duh.
    • lucky louie  •  Ormond Beach, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      they wouldn't have fired her but 35 lb. was too her #$%$
    • christine  •  3 mths ago
      Just looking for money.
    • jeff s  •  Miami, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      Lets face it u cant be fat and work for that company....
    • Sarah  •  Bowling Green, Kentucky  •  3 mths ago
      This can only be seen as discrimination if there was a medical issue that caused her to gain the weight. But she had agreed (and I'm guessing signed a contract? No clue how WW employment works) and showed no evidence of a medical condition, so I would have to say the decision was fair.
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