Can You Lose a Job For Being Too Attractive?

Posted by Staff Editor in Career Advice • Oct 2, 2013

Yes, you read the title right and yes, it seems that you can lose a job for being too attractive.

There are many labor laws that serve to protect people from unfair or prejudicial hiring practices. For women, there are laws in place that are designed to protect them from being passed over for a job or for being fired due to their gender. There are even federal laws that make sexual harassment in the workplace illegal. For legal purposes, sexual harassment can include “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.” It doesn't cover the occasional offhand comment, the thoughts an employer might be harboring and the jealous imaginings of the boss's spouse.

Recently, a dentist in Iowa fired his long time dental assistant because he claimed that she was too attractive and that in the time that they had been working together, he had grown increasingly more attracted to her. He was worried that he might attempt to start an affair with her, sexually harass her or behave in a way that would be harmful to his marriage.

While I don't think it should matter as far as the legal principles at play, it still seems worth noting that the assistant hadn't done anything to foster these feelings in her boss. At no point has she been accused of being overly flirtatious or behaving in a manner that would make him believe that she would be open to the idea of an affair with her boss. Again, not that it matters.

The dental assistant sued her former employer for wrongful termination and sexual discrimination. During the course of the trial, the legal issue being decided was “whether an employee who has not engaged in flirtatious conduct may be lawfully terminated simply because the boss views the employee as an irresistible attraction.”

The case was heard in the Iowa Supreme Court where an all-male court ruled that yes, an employer can fire an employees, male or female, because they or their spouses view them as a threat to their marriage. The reason given is because the issue in question isn't based on gender, but instead is one of emotions and feeling, which aren't protected.

I'm not sure how I feel about this ruling, but I can see the court's point. On the other hand, I think that it's poorly done of the dentist to fire a long time employee based on his own feelings. When he hired her, I'm sure the fact that she was attractive played a large role in why he felt she was right for the job. For it to be used against her later seems wrong. However, I have to hope that this is an isolated incident and in the end, the dental assistant was better off for not having to continue to work for an employer who was having those types of thoughts about her.

What do you think? Do you think employers should be able to fire people because they're too attractive or because they think that they might be tempted to harass them? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Image source: MorgueFile

William Jorns • Oct 12, 2013

I don't think they should be allowed to fire employees who are too attractive. If the dentist were concentrating on his work instead of his assistant, this issue would never have arisen in the first place. And, I must point out, an ALL-MALE court took his side. That, in my opinion, is sex discrimination in and of itself. The dental assistant should have been judged solely on the merits of her job performance, NOT by whether or not she was attractive and thus a distraction to her boss.

Barbara Walters • Oct 12, 2013

I feel it is wrong to exclude an employee based on age, looks, or race. We expect Dentist & Dr.s to have integrity and be honest and loyal to there employees the as.e way the employees do the same thing and help the practice to grow. If the employee is honest, neat in appearance, skilled at her job, loyal with the Dr. Than she is an asset to the practice & deserving of her job. It wrong to fire her because if it was a problem to begin with that she is to good looking & she was hired for the wrong reasons to begin with.

Jessica Devlin • Oct 12, 2013

I do not think a female employee can be terminated because she was too good looking. Just because the male employer has male ego problems he cannot fire a female employee. Women have had to bend over backwards to fit into a male working culture, now it is time for men to grow up and be responsible for their own emotions and not to blame the woman.

Denise Medrano • Oct 12, 2013

I have been discharged for a pretty lame reason myself, the excuse I got after working in my position for 2 years was I was not a good fit. After 2 yrs? Come on! I feel that this young woman is better off without working for that boss. It is a shame that she had to be let go for that reason. I guess beauty can be a handicap at times. I feel for her. I just hope her next job is a much better fit for her and her boss(es).

G. Arhop • Oct 12, 2013

It is sad that she will have to put that she was terminated on her applications for employment without being able to offer an explanation for the termination in most cases. All because someone else could not act professionally. This sounds like a cry for help from the dentist to me. He is stating that he cannot control himself around a women he finds attractive even if she does not encourage his behavior. My question is what would he have done if he acted on his feelings and she rejected him? He clearly states he could not control himself. It may even be as simple as that he thought by firing her he could pursue her without risking other employees finding out or breaking workplace sexual harassment laws but her reaction was not one of flattery but outrage. Either way this man is truly disturbed. Her seems to be covering up a much darker urge that he has and that jury will probably not be the last he sits in front of.

Raymond Hindeleh • Oct 12, 2013

I think if you check all the waitresses in restaurants and all sales jobs; in addition to secretaries and front line positions, are based on FIRST LOOK. SHE should be ATTRACTIVE in anyway. Before talking, she should like beautiful and can be sexy with Good feminine criteria. Poor man , he does not have these. And all recruiters are tempted by this point in their recruitment. This is the First impression, and pretend that the guest will LOOK for the same !!! UNDERSTANDING GUEST NEEDS. Normally , it is understanding his mind and feelings.

Georgina Mori • Oct 12, 2013

There are some grays on this case. However, from the exposed facts, I do not agree with the court decision. He is firing her for an unrelated business issue. I'm sure that if instead of beautiful, the employee was terrible ugly, the court would have implied discrimination.

Noemi Rojas • Oct 12, 2013

I feel sorry for the assistant and the employer because he is right for wanting to guard himself and marriage but instead of firing her offer her a severance package and be honest in why he is letting her go. He was a brave man for doing so he respected himself as to let go before it was too late his wife and ultimately the assistant. The power of the flesh is too weak and all fall too quickly is applaude him in a way.

Timothy McMahand • Oct 12, 2013

My feelings were that this was just one incident that made it to the court system; however I don’t believe that this was an isolate case. This was just one for the records and the beginning of things to come. And as unfair as this case may have been this will not be the end of this dentist problem. I don’t agree with the outcome and it is my belief that the assistant should have been compensated for damage and lost of income. But, the court system should do a better job of ensuring that cases being tried have better representation of people judging defendants. Because this case clearly looks like the efforts of a jealous controlling wife and it very unfortunate that the dentist assistant was the victim in their martial problems.

D Miller • Oct 12, 2013

Pretty simple actually. You are a Professional in a Professional environment. Entirely disagree with Felonise, there is no mention of lack of female sexual control in the comment

Tanya D • Oct 12, 2013

I must say I am thoroughly disappointed with the overall basis of this entire case. This supports employees' analogies of workplace protection for employers, not employees. What is baffling is the lack of legal support for the employee, in terms of the legal system. It is inconceivable to have a team of male judges sit over the case. Although their intention was to remain open-minded, it is impossible to relate/empathize. I agree with the article in that many employers preference someone they deem as attractive to be the face of the business. However it is not uncommon for female employees at any level to be discarded because of being attractive. Let's face it, we live in a man's world. And although we can quote these so called laws to prevent wrongful discharge and protection, who are we really kidding. Unless you have the financial or right connections, justice does not have your back.

R Hannah • Oct 12, 2013

I am Muslim and being covered does not make you less attractive. Sure it may prevent your figure from being seen but your face, walk and conversation can also make someone attracted to you. A woman should not have to completely hide who she is so no one will be attracted to you. Again, society is putting the burden on the woman to "make" her suppress who she is, opposed to the person attracted to you being able to control his/herself in a professional environment. Not cool. As you know we cannot control other people...

June Carter • Oct 12, 2013

It's called self control folks. Learn some! Beautiful people shouldn't be discriminated against because of others insecurities.

Peter Weicker • Oct 12, 2013

The question is whether someone guilty of nothing can be harmed with impunity and without legal redress. The underlying disease is embodied in the question itself, and the fact that asking it can seem acceptable.

Shabeer.Khan • Oct 12, 2013

yes correct employer has full right to hire and fire based on any illegal activity by employees

maria england • Oct 12, 2013

Isn't that discrimination?

john OConnell • Oct 12, 2013

If you're ugly can they fire you ?

Geoff Stadnyk • Oct 12, 2013

An all male court? Hmmmm.

BEVERLY Galten • Oct 12, 2013

I disagree with the firing of this attractive women. He knew in the first place that she was attractive and shouldn't have hired her.I also feel that it was unfair for it to be a trial with all males. Of course, they are going to take the side of the doctor. I worked in the office field for at least 45 years. I got out of it because I was burnt out, and am I glad that I did because there is too much politics in the workplace.

Meilan Liong • Oct 12, 2013

that is so ridiculous. that is why companies should have rules and regulation against dating in the workplace which causing toxic work environment. i have known a floor manager who get fired as well from having too many affair with female coworkers and he has attachment to his employment records for sexual harrassment. he was able to work in different location with same position as long as he does not repeat the same mistake. human resources are responsible to get the conflict resolved between male and female workers to make sure that everyone feel safe and comfortable working at the company. simple as that. its not fair that the women who has take the blame for being attractive and ended up get fired or losing the job. what happen with equal opportunity ?

HARRIET FLAUAUS • Oct 12, 2013

I THINK IT IS VERY WRONG TO FIRE SOMEONE BECAUSE YOU FEEL SHE WAS TO ATTRACTIVE. WHAT NEXT, HE WILL FIRE SOMEONE BECAUSE OF T COLOR OF THERE HAIR? HOW STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul Aylward • Oct 12, 2013

I think that is absolutely ridiculous. The court needs to stay out of peoples personal lives. Be it in reality or just in the mind.

Linda McFarland • Oct 12, 2013

The ruling is despicable and demonstrates that some of us are still living in the dark ages. No one has a right to remove another person's income, damage their 401K because she now has to be with another company long enough to receive company contribution, build up vacation, and spend time and effort in a bad economy to find another job (where she might experience the SAME THING) - all because of some guy's filth. All of this will be a cost to her that is entirely the fault of the employer. I hope his name is printed and he's reviewed on Yelp and other boards so that patients can stay away from him. But I know all about this, having been considered attractive for about 25 of my work years. It damaged me to the tune of hundreds of thousands due to men who focused on me exclusively as a potential sex mate and who became angry when I didn't return flirtation, and also because of other women (and men) who went out of their way to create a hostile work environment. It didn't help that I was also a top performer. That along with appearance and you can count on people going insane and coming at you with virtual knives. And now imagine if a dental assistant was fired for being too unattractive and not sexually appealing enough to the employer. Think the judges may have ruled differently? Yet it's the same issue but in reverse. And let me add, this is a sexual harrassment case, because if the assistant had an affair with him, she'd probably still be employed. It was because the dentist hadn't been able to use her to relieve his sexual attraction toward her that caused him to finally terminate her. OBVIOUSLY!The Supreme Court needs to hear this case.

margaret geringer • Oct 12, 2013

Maybe hiring people should not hire extremely good looking people in the first place if they feel that this would be a distraction to workers of the opposite sex!

Cheryl Edwards • Oct 12, 2013

In Canada, employers are able to terminate people, often without reason, but certainly if there is an incompatibility between employer and employee, providing the required severance is paid (minimum 1 week's wages for every year worked to a maximum of 8 weeks). What the dentist did was not befitting the fate for a long-time employee - perhaps what made this situation worse for everyone was that he gave a reason for dismissal. I'm astonished, though, that the courts agreed with the dentist.

Can You Lose a Job For Being Too Attractive?

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