Times continue to change and today people tend to judge a person on how they look. Companies are becoming more competitive and are looking for ways to attract customers. More retailers and companies are using the approach to hire based on appearance rather than work capability. Hiring should be based on work ethic, rather than appearance which can be discriminating.
The United States has laws against discrimination in the workplace, but many companies still discriminate against employees based on their looks. In a study done by scientists at Harvard Business School and the University of Texas, it was found that good-looking men are more likely to get hired than less attractive men. The study also found that good-looking men are more likely to be promoted than less attractive men.
Some companies have started to require employees to wear uniforms. This helps to create a consistent appearance for the company and customers know what to expect when they see an employee. It can also help to build teamwork among employees. Wearing uniforms can also be seen as a way of discriminating against employees who do not fit the mold of the company’s ideal employee.
Many people believe that salespeople are more likely to be successful if they are good-looking. A study done by two professors at the University of Wisconsin found that people were more likely to buy from a good-looking salesperson. The study also found that people were more likely to trust a good-looking salesperson.
There are many ways that companies can attract customers. Offering discounts, having a sale, or providing coupons are all common methods. However, some companies are now using the appearance of their employees to attract customers. Hiring based on looks rather than work ethic can be discriminatory and is not an effective way to run a business.
People are being denied employment at companies all over the United States because of their physical appearance. People in the United States are led to believe that everyone is entitled to equal opportunity, which isn’t true given that people are turned down for work based on how they dress, piercings or tattoos they have, and even weight.
There are many people who believe that they have the perfect look for a certain job, but when they go in for an interview they do not get hired because of the way they look. This happens more often than people realize, and it is something that needs to be changed.
There are many people who are extremely qualified for a job, but they are not given the chance to even show their worth because of their physical appearance. In a study done by the National Bureau of Economic Research, it was shown that “attractive” people were more likely to get called back after an interview than “unattractive” people (Friedman). This shows that appearances play a huge role in whether or not someone gets employed.
Not only are people being judged on their looks, but they are also being judged on their weight. In a study done by the University of Florida, it was shown that “overweight women were less likely to be hired than thinner women, even when they had the same qualifications” (qtd. in Schulte). This is an extremely unfair prejudice that overweight people have to deal with. People should not be denied employment based on their weight because it has nothing to do with their ability to do the job.
It is time for companies to start hiring people based on their qualifications and not their physical appearance. There are too many qualified people who are being denied employment because of the way they look, and this needs to change.
It is not our decision to determine how we appear. We don’t choose to be tall, short, have little or big eyes, or whether we have fair skin. Employers should not base hiring decisions on physical appearance. Most companies are now seeking employees who resemble models: height, slim builds, beautiful faces and young individuals are among the traits sought after by employers.
This is unfair to those who may not have these “ideal” characteristics. Take for example, United States employment. In the United States, employers cannot discriminate against employees based on sex, race, color, national origin, religion, age, or disability. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), “The Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) forbids discrimination against people who are 40 or older. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities” (“Facts About Equal Employment Opportunity,” n.d.). However, there are no laws that stop employers from discriminating against employees based on physical appearance.
A study done in 2007 by professors at the University of Toronto and Duke University found that “good-looking people earn an average of 5% more than people with below-average looks” (“Do Attractive People Earn More?,” 2007). The study also found that “very attractive women earned 12% more money than women who were merely average looking” (“Do Attractive People Earn More?,” 2007). This is not fair to those who do not have these ideal characteristics. People should be hired based on their qualifications, not their looks.
Retailers such as Abercrombie & Fitch, which recruits aesthetically attractive salespeople. I’ve never seen an Abercrombie employee overweight while shopping there. Employees at Abercrombie appear to be beach models strolling around the shop. According to Mr. Serrano, a former manager assistant of Abercrombie instructed staff to approach and offer a job to anyone who fit their store appearance.
It does not matter if the potential employee has experience or is good at sales. According to Mr. Serrano, “If they don’t have the look, they don’t have the job.”
The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has taken action against Abercrombie for their hiring practices. The EEOC claims that Abercrombie refused to hire a Muslim woman because she wore a headscarf. In another case, the EEOC alleges that Abercrombie refused to hire a heavyset African American woman because she did not fit the company’s “look policy.”
Abercrombie isn’t alone in using appearance as a factor in hiring decisions. Many employers in the United States use appearance as a criterion for employment. For example, some restaurants will only hire servers who are attractive because they believe that good-looking servers will make more money in tips.
Appearance discrimination is not illegal in the United States, but it can sometimes lead to illegal discrimination. For example, if an employer refuses to hire someone because of their weight, this might be considered discrimination based on disability. If an employer only hires white employees, this might be considered race discrimination.
There are some instances where appearance discrimination is legal. For example, employers can require employees to have a certain appearance if it is necessary for the job. For example, firefighters must be physically fit because their job requires them to lift heavy equipment and climb stairs.
Some employers argue that appearance is important for customer service. For example, a hotel might want to hire only attractive employees because they believe that this will make the guests feel more comfortable.