Ragen - your observations are on the nose, as usual. So much of what you've written IS specific
to big people, BUT the underlying problem applies to everyone: People in service trades are not
being taught what ought to be the mantra of their work: The CUSTOMER is always right; we are
here to SERVE ANY CUSTOMER; WE are ALWAYS willing to take the blame if something goes wrong - mistakes are NEVER put on the customer! In other words: CUSTOMER SERVICE has
become a dead issue - no one wants to put themselves out for the people who actually pay
their wages: the customers. Something has to get employers back to training their staffs to
keep these things in mind: no customers, no jobs for you! Especially in the medical trades,
where low-to-mid-level employees tend to get, well -- uppity with the patrons --- training ought
to be mandatory in how to treat the people you serve.
Thanks so much for addressing this. I plan to send it to my healthcare provider. I just experienced being told that the outpatient facility where they scheduled my colonoscopy/endoscopy can’t accommodate me because my BMI is over their limit! This appointment was made 2 months ago and both my husband and I had to schedule a day off so that he could accompany me and drive me home. Now they tell me that there are no appointments available for the next 3 months and will have to call me back when the August scheduling calendar opens up. I was not particularly looking forward to this procedure as it is. I wonder how many people who experience this kind of thing will just give up and avoid this type of potentially life-saving screening because of failures like this. So frustrating!!!
This needed to be said. I hear a lot of BS stories from my clients about their fatphobic doctor, nurse, etc. It really makes it harder for them and contributes to disordered eating. UGH! Keep writing Ragen! I appreciate you.
Ragen - your observations are on the nose, as usual. So much of what you've written IS specific
to big people, BUT the underlying problem applies to everyone: People in service trades are not
being taught what ought to be the mantra of their work: The CUSTOMER is always right; we are
here to SERVE ANY CUSTOMER; WE are ALWAYS willing to take the blame if something goes wrong - mistakes are NEVER put on the customer! In other words: CUSTOMER SERVICE has
become a dead issue - no one wants to put themselves out for the people who actually pay
their wages: the customers. Something has to get employers back to training their staffs to
keep these things in mind: no customers, no jobs for you! Especially in the medical trades,
where low-to-mid-level employees tend to get, well -- uppity with the patrons --- training ought
to be mandatory in how to treat the people you serve.
That's MY rant for the day!
Thanks so much for addressing this. I plan to send it to my healthcare provider. I just experienced being told that the outpatient facility where they scheduled my colonoscopy/endoscopy can’t accommodate me because my BMI is over their limit! This appointment was made 2 months ago and both my husband and I had to schedule a day off so that he could accompany me and drive me home. Now they tell me that there are no appointments available for the next 3 months and will have to call me back when the August scheduling calendar opens up. I was not particularly looking forward to this procedure as it is. I wonder how many people who experience this kind of thing will just give up and avoid this type of potentially life-saving screening because of failures like this. So frustrating!!!
This needed to be said. I hear a lot of BS stories from my clients about their fatphobic doctor, nurse, etc. It really makes it harder for them and contributes to disordered eating. UGH! Keep writing Ragen! I appreciate you.
Great essay, Ragen. But I think you left out a crucial DO NOT in this sentence (under "Other Solutions", second paragraph):
"By non-shaming I mean protocols that blame fat bodies for not being accommodated"
Surely that should read
"By non-shaming I mean protocols that DO NOT blame fat bodies for not being accommodated"
Right?
That's exactly what I meant. Thank you so very much for the heads up, the piece has been edited!
Once again, you got everything right, Ragen! Thank you so much.