In an experiment in which people were asked to imagine visiting a restaurant, the idea of having an obese waiter made research participants feel more negatively about the establishment — but this difference disappeared if the waiter was described as cheerful and funny and telling jokes, say Kelly O. Cowart of Grand Valley State University in Michigan and Michael K. Brady of Florida State University. The finding that joviality can erase the negative-stereotype effects of obesity in front-line employees and their firms suggests that managers should allow obese employees to express themselves in ways that lighten the mood or are amusing or entertaining, the researchers say.

(Source: Journal of Retailing)