Imagine studying hard for a civil service exam, passing it, and being told you’re one step away from a stable, respected job—only to hear, “Come back after you lose 95 pounds.” That’s precisely what happened according to Angela Harris in Harris v. City of New York, and her experience has become one of the first major tests of New York City’s new law banning weight discrimination.
If you’ve ever felt passed over, sidelined, or judged in the workplace because of your weight or height, this case should matter to you. It may signal a turning point.
According to Angela Harris’ Complaint, she did everything right. She passed New York City’s civil service exam to become a probation officer and showed up for the required medical evaluation. But instead of moving forward in the hiring process, she was told to leave—and not return until she lost nearly 100 pounds.
Let that sink in: no mention of a medical condition, no explanation of how her weight would prevent her from doing the job, no room for discussion—just a number on a scale. According to her Complaint, other candidates from her exam group were hired. She wasn’t.
She filed suit.
In response to Harris’s lawsuit, the City of New York asked the court to dismiss the case, claiming she didn’t have enough evidence. The court disagreed.
The judge ruled that being told to lose a specific amount of weight to be considered for a job was enough to raise a red flag and allow the case to move forward. Why? Because in New York City, it is now illegal to discriminate against someone because of their weight or height.
That’s thanks to a law that took effect in November 2023, making it unlawful for employers, landlords, and public businesses to treat people unfairly based on body size unless they can show a legitimate, job-related reason.
This case may be the first to tackle weight-motivated discrimination, but it won’t be the last. It signals a clear message: if you’ve been denied a job, fired, or treated differently at work simply because of your body size, you’re not without rights.
Here’s what to know:
1. Your weight alone should not be used to deny you a job.
Unless an employer can show that your size directly prevents you from doing the job safely and effectively, they can’t use your weight as a reason to shut the door.
2. Vague or stereotypical “health” concerns aren’t good enough.
Employers sometimes try to frame weight discrimination as a concern for safety or wellness. However, that reasoning won’t hold up under the new law unless those concerns are based on objective, individualized evidence tied to the job.
3. You don’t have to stay silent.
If you’ve been told to lose weight to keep or get a job, or if you suspect you were passed over because of your size, you can take action. There are options, whether it’s through documentation, filing a complaint, or speaking with someone knowledgeable about your rights.
4. New York City law is on your side.
This case highlights how powerful NYC’s Human Rights Law has become. Unlike many state or federal laws, it provides broader protections—and that means broader accountability for unfair treatment.
We’re living through a cultural shift. Size discrimination was ignored or treated as acceptable for too long, even in professional settings. That’s changing. Angela Harris’s case helps shine a light on the kinds of comments, policies, and hiring practices that may have seemed normal in the past—but are now recognized for what they are: discriminatory.
If you’ve faced similar treatment—whether being told you need to slim down, overlooked despite your qualifications, or subjected to demeaning remarks because of your appearance—know that you are not alone. The law is evolving. And your story, like Angela Harris’s, maybe the one that moves it forward.
For anyone who has been a target of workplace discrimination in New York, working with a qualified and knowledgeable attorney is often the best course of action for effectively addressing these issues. At Risman & Risman, we offer adept legal help for those facing workplace discrimination. Our team can provide you with specialized legal services for your issues. Call us today at 212-233-6400 to schedule a free initial consultation with our team.