Weight loss for new overweight staff mandatory: company policy

Overweight employees must lose more than five kilograms within the first three months of employment to keep their jobs, a new media company in Southwest China's Chongqing has stipulated, in a bid to encourage healthy lifestyles.

Deng Bo, a partner at the unnamed company, said that he came up with the policy after recently losing roughly 20 kilograms, bringing his weight down to some 80 kilograms.

Deng, who claimed to have gained weight from constantly eating out with customers and failing to exercise, said that a controlled diet and regular long-distance walking helped him achieve his results.

To help staff obey the rule, Hu Hao, in charge of operations, said employees can opt to work a flexible schedule.