Atlantic City casino allowed to fire waitresses if they put on too much weight

A casino has been told it can fire its cocktail waitresses if they put on or lose up to 7% of their body weight. The state appeals court ruled that the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, in Atlantic City, can regulate the weight of its staff - known as the “Borgata Babes”. Borgata Babes - who wear corsets, high heels and stockings - were told they could not lose or gain too much weight without facing discipline, the Press of Atlantic City reported.

We have long held that Borgata’s personal appearance policy is fair and reasonable.

Borgata vice president and legal counsel Joe Corbo

Twenty-one cocktail waitresses brought a discrimination suit against the casino over its personal appearance standards rule, which limits how much weight the scantily clad workers can gain or lose. The court found that the appearance standards are lawful, but ordered a lower court to rule on whether 11 of the women were subjected to a hostile work environment because of their gender. In the ruling, three judges wrote that the 11 plaintiffs had challenged the weight standard because of “documented medical conditions or post-pregnancy conditions”, the Press reported. The casino said it has fired two Borgata Babes for violating the policy - one for gaining too much weight, the other for losing too much.

Sexual objectification has been institutionalised and is being allowed to stand.

Lawyer Deborah Mains, acting for the waitresses

Business Borgata