By ANGELA GREGORY
Slightly built and just 1.42m (4ft 8in), Michelle Muir is admittedly tiny - but her self-esteem is even lower after she was called a work hazard.
The 20-year-old from Mt Roskill wants to work in the food industry, but has been told she presents a danger to herself and others.
"They say I am a work hazard - like if I have to stand on something to reach a shelf I have been told I could make someone trip."
She wanted to make burgers but a fast-food outlet manager told her she was too short. "I asked if I could make the fries instead but was told I might fall into the frier."
Miss Muir has a part-time cleaning job but wants better.
She has work experience in the food industry and completed polytechnic courses in service and hospitality.
"But every time I go for an interview they look at me twice because of my size. I am sure of it."
One employer even made her sign a contract that should she hurt herself at work because she was so little, the firm could not be held liable.
"I would like to be taller, but can't help the way I've been made."
Human Rights Commission spokesman Glyn Walters said the law did not protect people against discrimination because of size or appearance.
Unless a person could bring other established grounds of discrimination, such as race or disability, he or she had no recourse under New Zealand legislation, he said.
Trudie McNaughton, executive director of the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust, was reluctant to comment on an individual case.
However, she said employers often limited their pool of potential staff by imposing height restrictions.
When people applied for jobs outside the average height or weight range, employers could consider re-allocating tasks or trying some creative solutions, said Trudie McNaughton.
Changes to workplace conditions, such as storage or equipment, could benefit all staff members.
She said it used to be thought that women were not suitable for certain jobs because of the heavy lifting involved.
Changes to make lifting safer for women, such as using trolleys or special shelving, had led to safer working conditions for men.
I measure up, pleads small job-seeker
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