Pepe Santos was an international flight steward of FlySafe Airlines. Under FSA's Cabin Crew Administration Manual, Santos must maintain, given his height, a weight of 150 to 170 pounds. After 5 years as a flight steward, Santos began struggling with his weight; he weighed 200 lbs. , 30 pounds over the prescribed maximum weight. The Airline gave him a one-year period to attain the prescribed weight, and enrolled him ins everal weight reduction programs. He consitently failed to meet his target. He was given a 6-month grace period, after which he still failed to meet the weight limit.
FSC thus sent him a Notice of Administrative Charge for violation of company standards on weight requirements. He stated in his answer that, for medical reasons, he cannot have a rapid weight loss. A clarificatory hearing was held where Santos fully explained his predicament. The explanation did not satisfy FSA and so it decided to terminate Santos' service for violation of company standards. Santos filed a complaint for illegal dismissal, arguing that the comapany's weight requirement policy is unreasonable and that his case is not a disciplinary but a medical issue (as one get older, the natural tendency is to grow heavier).
FSA defended its policy as a valid exercise of management prerogative and from the point of view of passenger safety and extraordinary diligence required by law of common carriers; it also posited that Santos' failure to achieve his ideal weight constituted gross and habitual neglect of duty, as well as willful disobedience to lawful employer orders. The Labot Arbiter found the dismissal illegal for there was neither gross and habitual neglect of duty nor willful disobedience. Is the Labor Arbiter correct? Why or why not? Explain fully. (6%)
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