Ex-Emirates flight attendants claimed that they would have to be watched and disciplined by their grooming officers if they are deemed obese.
The former employees have described how some staff were enrolled into an ‘Appearance Management Programme’ run by image and grooming officers in order to ensure they were putting on a ‘glamorous Emirates face’.
These officers were also known as “weight police” and would regularly monitor staff’s weights, as well as issue sanctions such as cuts to pay if they did not meet airline requirements.
Karla Bayson (36) worked nine years for the airline before her departure in 2021. She said she was aware of warnings she received from colleagues about their weight.
Former Emirates flight attendant Karla Bayson, 36, who worked for the airline for nine years, said she her colleagues would receive warnings about their weight
Maya Dukaric claimed that ‘weight police’ would occasionally stop cabin crew at airports
According to her, some employees were allowed two weeks for weight loss before being rechecked by officers.
Ms Bayson said that the airline had strict rules regarding uniforms and would not hire anyone with visible tattoos.
Maya Dukaric was a former flight attendant with the airline. She claimed that weight police would sometimes stop crew members at airports to say: ‘Hey, babe. You have to slow it down.
A former business associate in human-resources, who wishes to remain anonymous said that participants in weight management were offered diet and exercise plans. HR would then assess the progress.
Source, who was with Emirates for five years, said to The Insider:There is a strong culture of sharing information with management.
The former HR manager said that failure to meet weight goals set by the airline’s officers would lead to punishments such as pay cuts and estimated that ‘150 people out of 25,000’ cabin crew were on the programme at any given time.
These claims follow months of one Emirates airline hostess claiming she quit her 10 year-old career because she had to go through a three-year weight management program that involved random weight checks prior to flights.
Duygu Karaman lives in High Wycombe and said that during her three-year tenure with the airline, her body was constantly monitored as an anonymous colleague complained she was too heavy.
Former employees described the process of enrolment into an “Appearance Management Program” by former staff. (Stock image)
They were commonly known as the weight police’ and monitored the weight of all staff involved in the program. (Stock image)
According to her, she was a 12 year old and weighed 10st 7lbs. However, airline tracking began keeping track of her BMI. She would then be pulled aside for weight check before each flight.
Because she was two kilograms over the Emirates requirements, her air hostess said that Emirates put her onto a weight management program.
The Mirror was told by Ms Duygu that nutritional advice wasn’t very helpful.
Former employee said, “If you do not lose within that time period, your job can be lost.”
“It’s impossible to not be perfect because of the constant stress you feel.”
The flight attendant explained that her weight would fluctuate and the random checks would leave her upset.
According to her, employees had to maintain a certain weight for a year before they were removed from the weight-management program. However, if she lost one or two more kilos, she was reinstated on zero month.
She is now studying to be a dietician at University of Reading. Ms. Duygu said that she felt she was unhappy with her job, and she felt happier after resigning.
MailOnline reached Emirates to request comment.