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Journal of Business and Psychology

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01-09-2011

Logit Model to Predict Outcomes of Litigated Employee Obesity Cases

Authors: Helen LaVan, Marsha Katz

Published in: Journal of Business and Psychology | Issue 3/2011

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Abstract

Purpose

Given that there are no specific legal protections for obese employees, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the litigated case characteristics and case outcomes when an employee is subjected to negative consequences in the workplace and subsequently sues the employer.

Design/Methodology/Approach

The study is an analysis of a random sample of 276 litigated cases based on adverse employment decisions of individuals who were obese. These cases were retrieved using Lexis/Nexis over the past 10 years. Eighty cases were included in the empirical analysis. This analysis considered demographic characteristics, organizational and cases characteristics, legal bases, and confounding physical factors. Multivariate logistic regression was performed in order to investigate the effect of the independent variables.

Findings

The employee prevailed in almost 40% of the cases. The case characteristics associated with the employer prevailing included the employee being a professional, being in the public sector and filing lawsuits under discrimination, health and disability laws.

Implications

Some of the findings are contrary to popular perception. Obese employees have legal protections under various discrimination laws, even though there does not seem to be explicit protections under the law. Thus, organizations must be more vigilant in sanctioning obesity. However, this sanctioning is neither a disability nor a gender issue.

Originality/Value

This is the first study using qualitative content analysis of litigated cases and logistic regression to analyze litigated cases in which obese employees were disciplined.

previous article The Influence of Psychological Contract Breach on Temporary Workers’ Commitment and Behaviors: A Multiple Agency Perspective

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Title: Logit Model to Predict Outcomes of Litigated Employee Obesity Cases
Authors: Helen LaVan
Marsha Katz
Publication date: 01-09-2011
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Business and Psychology / Issue 3/2011
Print ISSN: 0889-3268
Electronic ISSN: 1573-353X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-010-9191-4

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Abstract

Purpose

Design/Methodology/Approach

Findings

Implications

Originality/Value

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