Discrimination based on appearance...

[Cuda1447]

Obviously we know there are laws against discriminating against people based on appearance/race/religion/etc...

I want to make this very clear at the start, the type of discrimination Im talking about will be things that the person being discriminated against has control over. Such as smelling bad, having dirt on their bodies, being overweight, to many tattoes, hair not properly groomed etc..

Do you feel an employer should be allowed to not hire someone based on their appearance? And lets assume that this person will be working with the public. Perhaps a secretary?


Obviously the law will protect against these types of discriminations, but a part of me thinks that the employer should have a right to not hire someone based on their appearance, especially if that person would be representing the company, such as a secretary.

Whatcha guys think? Keep in mind, my flamesuit is already on so you won't get through!

 

[Orsorum]

Yes.

My reasoning is this: if you expect to work for a firm, representing it to the public, you have an obligation and a duty to present yourself in a manner which conforms with the image the firm wants to project.

It is within your power to get too many tattoos, to have unkempt hair, to not bathe. It is not reasonably within your power to change your ethnicity, gender, religion, or sexual preference to conform with those standards.

 

[Vertimus]

Yes.

 

[suse920]

Yes

 

[Wallydraigle]

I think a business owner should be able to hire or fire whomever they want. I might not agree with their views, but it's their business, and they should have that right.

 

[Cuda1447]

Originally posted by: Wallydraigle
I think a business owner should be able to hire or fire whomever they want. I might not agree with their views, but it's their business, and they should have that right.

To a certain extent I agree with this. But we all know what kind of can of worms that would open up.

 

[wasserkool]

well, in a modelling agency, it is a MUST to select candidates based on physical appearance. So i guess it depends on the profession

 

[Deleted member 4644]

As far as I know, an employer can reject someone for those reasons... maybe I'm wrong?

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447

Originally posted by: Wallydraigle
I think a business owner should be able to hire or fire whomever they want. I might not agree with their views, but it's their business, and they should have that right.

To a certain extent I agree with this. But we all know what kind of can of worms that would open up.

Employers can typically get away with this as far as small businesses go, larger corporations have the most problems with it anyway. Look at the mess Tommy Hilfiger got into, most of his current adds have african americans in them now, and he's an admitted racist.

note: I'm an equal opportunity offender, I don't like anyone.

 

[thirdlegstump]

Totally. And in fact, I support discrimination of other controllable things such as race, religion etc. as some businesses need to project a certain appearance in order for their success as well. For example a high end Indian restaurant should not hire a white person for a wait staff etc.

 

[Cuda1447]

I thought of posting this as I was flipping through the channels on TV. There was one of those judge judy type shows on. The plantiff was and overweight individual who claiming the defendant didn't hire her as a secretary because of her apperance. Regardless of whether this is true or not, we will assume it is. The plantiff even explained that she was applying for a secretary position and when people came in she would be the first person they would see. Just for the record, this woman was probably between 300-400 pounds, maybe more. She was VERY large and I am not capable of estimating weights that high.

The plantiff ended up winning.

 

[Cuda1447]

Originally posted by: deathkoba
Totally. And in fact, I support discrimination of other controllable things such as race, religion etc. as some businesses need to project a certain appearance in order for their success as well. For example a high end Indian restaurant should not hire a white person for a wait staff etc.

Oooh, interesting point you raise. I'll bet they normally DON'T hire a white person. Under the current law that would be illegal, yes? I find it very hard to believe any white person would win a lawsuit in that situation though.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447

Originally posted by: deathkoba
Totally. And in fact, I support discrimination of other controllable things such as race, religion etc. as some businesses need to project a certain appearance in order for their success as well. For example a high end Indian restaurant should not hire a white person for a wait staff etc.

Oooh, interesting point you raise. I'll bet they normally DON'T hire a white person. Under the current law that would be illegal, yes? I find it very hard to believe any white person would win a lawsuit in that situation though.

lol, yep reverse the roles and the white person loses everytime.

 

[klah]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447

Obviously we know there are laws against discriminating against people based on appearance

I doubt it since I am at a Fortune 1000 that has a policy against visible tattoos and strict rules for piercings, hairstyles and appearance.

Where did this idea come from that appearance is legally protected?

 

[IGBT]

..most certainly. And if you choose to look like a clown there's always the circus. Nearly all the hiphop rapper types look like rodeo clowns.

 

[Cuda1447]

Originally posted by: klah

Originally posted by: Cuda1447

Obviously we know there are laws against discriminating against people based on appearance

I doubt it since I am at a Fortune 1000 that has a policy against visible tattoos and strict rules for piercings, hairstyles and appearance.

Where did this idea come from that appearance is legally protected?

Ive seen/heard of lawsuits before regarding people being overweight and not being hired. That would an apperance based lawsuit. I just assumed that the law would apply to all controlable appearances, and wouldn't just pick and choose randomly?

 

[spidey07]

Yes. They can and should be able to discriminate.

Happens all the time to ugly and fat people.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447

Originally posted by: klah

Originally posted by: Cuda1447

Obviously we know there are laws against discriminating against people based on appearance

I doubt it since I am at a Fortune 1000 that has a policy against visible tattoos and strict rules for piercings, hairstyles and appearance.

Where did this idea come from that appearance is legally protected?

Ive seen/heard of lawsuits before regarding people being overweight and not being hired. That would an apperance based lawsuit. I just assumed that the law would apply to all controlable appearances, and wouldn't just pick and choose randomly?

yep, that's what I want to see, obese chicks on the cover of Maxim. :roll:

 

[Proletariat]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong

Originally posted by: Cuda1447

Originally posted by: Wallydraigle
I think a business owner should be able to hire or fire whomever they want. I might not agree with their views, but it's their business, and they should have that right.

To a certain extent I agree with this. But we all know what kind of can of worms that would open up.

Employers can typically get away with this as far as small businesses go, larger corporations have the most problems with it anyway. Look at the mess Tommy Hilfiger got into, most of his current adds have african americans in them now, and he's an admitted racist.

note: I'm an equal opportunity offender, I don't like anyone.

Actually the whole Tommy Hilfiger racist thing is a rumor.

It isn't true.

 

[Cuda1447]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Yes. They can and should be able to discriminate.

Happens all the time to ugly and fat people.

And they sue someone because of it, and usually win.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447

Originally posted by: spidey07
Yes. They can and should be able to discriminate.

Happens all the time to ugly and fat people.

And they sue someone because of it, and usually win.

Doesn't make it right. What next? I didn't get hired because I had a pimple?

IMHO a company should be able to hire/fire anybody regardless of anything.

 

[Cuda1447]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Cuda1447

Originally posted by: spidey07
Yes. They can and should be able to discriminate.

Happens all the time to ugly and fat people.

And they sue someone because of it, and usually win.

Doesn't make it right. What next? I didn't get hired because I had a pimple?

IMHO a company should be able to hire/fire anybody regardless of anything.

I agree to an extent, but thats not what the law says.

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: spidey07
IMHO a company should be able to hire/fire anybody regardless of anything.

But on the same token, it should be illegal for a company to require that people reveal things that may prevent them from getting/maintaining a job.

 

[mattocs]

You pick your religion...they should be able to fire you for that.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Injury

Originally posted by: spidey07
IMHO a company should be able to hire/fire anybody regardless of anything.

But on the same token, it should be illegal for a company to require that people reveal things that may prevent them from getting/maintaining a job.

Yeah, but the privacy line is blurring these days. These days of the "information age."