Should Appearance Be a Factor in Hiring?

Should you be able to hire employees based on how they look?

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For Subscribers

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAbdul El-Sayed tries to woo MAHA voters as Democrats seek inroads with RFK’s supporters

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKratom-like substances are popping up in a typically benign supplement

FOR SUBSCRIBERSGOP super PAC increases its spending for Sen. Jon Husted in tough Ohio race

FOR SUBSCRIBERSRecords reveal tumultuous marriage between slain New York Times executive and wife

FOR SUBSCRIBERSFrom clean energy warrior to ‘wall of shame,’ James Talarico reverses on a fossil fuel money pledge

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCongressional staff planned official trip with luxury stops in Italy and France weeks before election

FOR SUBSCRIBERSA harrowing ordeal aboard an Israel-bound plane

FOR SUBSCRIBERSOpenAI CEO Sam Altman to skip congressional hearing on rogue AI agents

FOR SUBSCRIBERSKey DOJ lawyers departed Trump ‘grand conspiracy’ probe amid pressure to produce, source says

FOR SUBSCRIBERSTrump’s new AI chatbot often links to a site launched under Clinton 26 years ago

FOR SUBSCRIBERSAt MAHA summit, industry CEOs the movement once vilified take the stage

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThis Paralympian has two goals: Win medals and give away $500,000 to her teammates

FOR SUBSCRIBERSCornell rape allegation spotlights stringent New York state laws that have long drawn criticism

FOR SUBSCRIBERSThe debate over AI’s future rages on both coasts

FOR SUBSCRIBERSDecades-old march dispute reignites in Northern Ireland, threatening political crisis

Retailer Abercrombie & Fitch is under investigation  in France for using looks as a key determinant in hiring. While the company claims it is hiring models -- a role where looks are naturally important -- the employees are actually used as sales clerks, where appearance is less important.

In the U.S., a court recently ruled  in New Jersey that cocktail waitresses at casinos can be hired and fired based on appearance, notably weight. If you want to be a Borgata babe, there was an expectation that you were, well, a babe.

Courts have largely found that appearance can't be a factor if it isn't a key part of your job. But studies have found  that people who are considered good looking often get preference in hiring and do better in sales.

Of course, it works both ways. You can be too hot. According to an Iowa court, distracting beauty can be grounds for dismissal.

So, as a business owner, should you be allowed to use looks in personnel decisions? Take our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
 

Should employers be able to use a candidate's appearance as part of their hiring criteria?