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Firm says Sean is too big to work
At 6ft 2ins and 19-and-a-half stone, Sean Duncan admits he's got a bigger than average frame.
But he says he was left 'humiliated' by a company which sent him home because he was too large to work in their factory.
After being out of work for two months, the 32-year-old landed a job through a recruitment agency working on a night shift packing plastic goods at Cope Allman Jaycare factory in Farlington.
He knew the factory well, having worked there seven years ago.
But within half-an-hour of his first shift starting, he was sent home because the company could not find an overall to fit him.
'I just feel completely discriminated against because of my size,' said Mr Duncan, of Purbrook Way, Havant.
'It wasn't the best job in the world but I've been out of work for about two months - I was just taking any job I got offered.
'I went to my induction and they couldn't find an overall for me.
'After 20 minutes they sent me home. It was humiliating. I'm not slim but I'm more than capable of doing the job.'
The following day, Mr Duncan went back to Workshop Recruitment Agency in Havant Road, Farlington, and was told there were no positions available at the factory.
He said: 'Should my size really allow a company not to let me work? Other than my size, I'm fit and healthy and have not had a day of sick for over two years.'
Cope Allman Jaycare, which is based in Walton Road, Farlington, says it has now ordered bigger overalls at the factory.
Dawn Cromwell, operations director at the company, said: 'The last thing we want to do is turn people away when they turn up to work.
'On the night in question we did not unfortunately have an overall large enough to accommodate one gentleman.'
Colin Walker, director of Workshop Recruitment agency, said: 'It's a difficult situation. You can not work on the site without having your clothes covered by overalls.
'Cope Allman said to the guy that they were sorry, they were sympathetic to him.
'The company thought they had enough extra large overalls but they did not fit him.'
Mr Duncan has since found other employment.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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