Would you consider it discrimination if a company wanted to hire a man before a woman since it’s a fact men are physically stronger than women?

[Anonymous]

Physical strength is good for employment such as building, security officer or police officer.

Females can still be physically strong but is true men on average are more physically stronger than women.

[slatyb]

Depends on the position. I think there's an OSHA regulation that generally forbids employers from requiring employees to lift more than 40 pounds unaided (with some exceptions). So as long as someone can lift 40 pounds, it doesn't much matter if they can lift 100. No sensible employer would allow an employee to lift that much weight -- an accident and a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[SaoirseS]

Bingo. Not only OSHA, but state and trade regulations also specify limitations on physical requirements and require certain safety gear and equipment for heavy lifting.

[slatyb]

@SaoirseS So I've seen lots of positions advertised saying "May have to lift up to 40 pounds", never more. Who would need to lift more than that except maybe a firefighter?

[SaoirseS]

@slatyb. Some jobs might require it. I think there's a specification for Home Depot employees as to how much weight they need to be able to lift (don't know exactly how much), but they also require wearing support belts and harnesses. I'm a funeral home owner/operator. We have to be able to lift caskets and human remains but we're also required to have specialized lifting and moving equipment to do the heavy lifting part. I think one of the requirements to sit in an exit row on an aircraft is must be able to lift a 50 lb door. I don't see where the night watchman has to be able to do anything but walk and shake doorknobs.

[ChillaxingLove]

Working in Construction. Most women are not able to keep up with that type of heavy labor which is why you don’t see a lot of if any construction women.

[SaoirseS]

Depends on the job description and statement of work. If the woman is best qualified and the man gets hired because he's a man, then yes that would be discrimination.

[Avicenna]

Security officers do not necessarily have to be physically strong.

[Redstang88]

No, some jobs are just more demanding. The industry I’m in can be extremely physical, many men can’t hack it