When Is It Appropriate And Not Appropriate To Hire Someone Based On Physical Appearance?

[wickerwoman]

68. But where do you draw the line?

Many companies will use the same argument (keeping clients comfortable) to justify not hiring effeminant men or masculine women. Should people lose out on jobs because they have alopecia or facial birthmarks or cleft palettes or lost their hair in chemotherapy? All of those things probably will drive away some customers or at least make them uncomfortable.

There are some people that no amount of make-up, ironing, hair styling or wardrobing are going to turn into "attractive" by mainstream standards. And yet they could be much brighter, harder working and talented than better looking people (and in my experience, they almost always are). I think it's a shame and short sighted that companies miss out on the talent because of superficial bullshit like how much time and money the candidate is willing to sink into personal appearance.