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

Thomas Pieluszczak • Oct 13, 2013

Every judge that ruled in favor of the judge should be recalled and/or impeached.

PAULINA OWIREDU • Oct 13, 2013

Wow, tough call, don't know what I would have done if I were amongst the panel of jurors. Does that mean beautiful people would not have jobs owing to the fact that they are beautiful? or will have no jobs if an employer feels he or she is attracted to them? or the concern of a jealous spouse who thinks their partner is spending more time on the job because of inferiority complex? hm.... tough call.

Patricia Watkins • Oct 13, 2013

I agree with the Editor. The dentist saw that the assistant was attractive the day she interviewed for the job; it is, undoubtedly, the reason he hired her because he had no idea if she'd perform well. He may have become more enamored by her after noticing her other qualities; like, hey, she CAN actually do the job, and he must've seen that she was beautiful inside as well as outside. I'd like throw this out there to see if anyone else has noticed this: there are "attractive" receptionists and assistants with beautiful, gleaming white teeth in every dental office (the ones I've been to from New York to California to Texas); and this is the first time I've heard this scenario. If the dentist focused more on doing his job and truly loving his wife we wouldn't be commenting on this particular story. In closing, some people like to shift the blame to where it doesn't belong; society is becoming a band of finger-pointing hypocrites who need to look in the mirror and start addressing some serious issues within themselves.

Belinda Webster • Oct 13, 2013

I believe the employer made the right decision for himself the employee and his spouse. He had no control over developing feelings for the employee. He did control his actions and not violate her sexually. It was best due to the fact he had to work closely with her everyday.

Wendy Jackson • Oct 13, 2013

I think this is very wrong and sad. In my opinion I do not think it is right for an employer to fire an employee just because they are sexually attracted to them. If he didn't think he could control hisself around her, then he has deeper issues to deal with, especially since he is married. He should have learned some self control and not fired a long time employee just because he didn't feel like he could control hisself around her. That is all part of being an employer and also in any profession. The same situation could happen but it could have been two employees that worked together. How would he have handled that situation? His only option at they point would be to quit his job or deal with it because he would not have the authority to fire her. I bet he wouldn't have quit his job because I'm sure he needs money to pay bills and things, i'm sure he would have learned to just deal with it. That's what he should have done in this situation, just deal with it, and not fire someone who has done nothing wrong. What if he was attracted to one if his regular patients? Do you think he would have told her to find another Dentist, and that he could not treat her because she is too attractive? I think not, because he would loose money if he turned away every attractive patient that needs dental work. But it's a shame that he didn't care that his long time employee may be put in a difficult situation with her bills by losing her job and losing her income. I think the jury was very wrong to rule in his favor.... What is this world coming to when you can be fired for being attractive and taking pride in how you look. I think this is a dang shame!

Lisa Miniard • Oct 13, 2013

I think it was wrong of him he should have talked to a shrink bfore causing someone to loss there job it wasnt her fault.

Deborah Swaitkewich • Oct 13, 2013

That same all male court would not have ruled for a female employer who fired a male employee for being to attractive regardless of what they said. This ruling perpetuates the Insane idea that men cannot and should not be required to control themselves.

William March • Oct 13, 2013

I think this is horrible. She should be given a chance to find work elsewhere before she's cutoff, since it's his issue. Something like this happened to a friend. Why are these people being supported by our God to do this ??? God works in mysterious ways alright. And now 3 of us are about to go homeless, because the last 2 wackos worked for cut me off of income after giving me raises 4 consecutive years. What is God's problem ????

Tina Ridha • Oct 13, 2013

Does anyone have to take responsibility for their own actions anymore? This is ridiculous and is a form of discrimination!!!!!!!!!! just as you were physically black, etc.. , because you were attractive. I am sure I have been discriminated against because I am attractive in interviews for even government jobs....because the men knew their wives would be upset if a coworker was attractive.

Puriza E. • Oct 13, 2013

I commend the employer's act of avoiding the temptation that may break his marriage. I will also do the same if I am the employer. I have the right, as an employer to choose who's going to work with me especially if I own the business. This should serve as a lesson to employees to never be "very attractive" in the workplace.

SHERRON SIMPSON • Oct 13, 2013

I guess the employer could not contain himself. If this person threatened his marriage, maybe he should have not hired her in the first place. I feel sorry for the young lady, but it was best for her.

Thabo Andrew • Oct 13, 2013

Hi! I think this thing wont work because even the next employee stil goin to attrach him . So is better for him to hold his feelings and focus on his job cz a person wich you working with or your employee you have to take him/ her as your sister or one of yr relatives to avoid stuff luke that.

Lynn Wilkinson • Oct 13, 2013

The dental assistance should have been compensated. She cannot be fired because of her great look. She didn't make herself specially pretty for the dentist. To me he fired her because he had been waiting for her to show interest for him and she didn't. He was tired of waiting so he decided if he fired her she will give him sex to keep her job. This is pure and simple case of discrimination. He will burn in hell. For his wife leave him. Why would you want to be with a man that cannot control his desire and made others paid for his weakness. This world is full of friendly, kindhearted beautiful ladies like the assistance. What are you going to do next. Castrate yourself? Better yet kill yourself so no more misery for you Dr. You don't belong in this world with beautiful people.

Pastor James Otitoju • Oct 13, 2013

I don't think that it is right for an employer to fire someone because he or she is attractikve. You saw that attractiveness in that person before you hired him or her, why should that become an issue now if only you don't entertain having an affair with the person. This has to do with what you are interested in otherwise it should not be an issue. An adage says: "An iddle hand, is a tool for the devil." Pray not to yeild into temptation and guide your eyes and thoughts. Thank you.

Dwayne Waterman • Oct 13, 2013

I feel that the ruling is wrong. If that actually set precedent, then any man or woman boss could use that as an excuse to get rid of employees they just don't like.

Godwin Nyelo • Oct 13, 2013

To me i think he should have asked for voluntary termination (if the law permits) giving his reasons that she was a threat to his relationship.

Joann Hedegard • Oct 13, 2013

hello and no I do not think an employer should be able to fire an employee because she is too attractive and he feels like he may harass her as if he is going to be any kind of cheater on his wife firing an employee is not the solution as he is the one with the problem of wanting to cheat on his wife or even having those thoughts to begin with and a person cannot help it if they have been blessed to be born beautiful ya know what I mean.God invented us all.

Joanna Richardson-Jones • Oct 12, 2013

Isolated case or not the act was either right or not. I can see both sides. After all the employer must want to have someone employed. There must be a more human way to separate then to fire a long term employee.

Jacqueline Courson • Oct 12, 2013

No saying I agree or disagree, but if an employer in an 'employment at will' state can fire you because he/she doesn't like you, I think it follows that they can fire you because the like you too much.No one ever said 'at will' employment was perfect, but at least it allows both businesses and employees free to make the right decisions for themselves (when companies do the firing and employees do the quitting) without a lot of fuss. In reality, this probably wasn't a healthy work environment anyway with this attitude. Given the knowledge of his firing practices, I would be curious to know what his hiring practices are - are there red flags for discrimination? Where there is smoke, there is fire.

Cindia Ertulien • Oct 12, 2013

I do believe it's wrong how he fired her but in the end she's better off at least she's safe.

Derrick Hopkins • Oct 12, 2013

What!

Brett Gilbert • Oct 12, 2013

This is a clear open & shut case that the Supreme got wrong. If that man made the decision to hire her, & she performed the duties of her job with no sexual harassment on her part, he's responsible for upholding his end of the agreement. She rightly deserves to receive payments.

Kennedi Baxter • Oct 12, 2013

"WHAT DO I THINK??" I "KNOW" THIS WORLD IS CRAZY...AND THE DENTIST SHOULD BE LOCKED UP FOR THE CRIMES HE HAS COMMITTED IN HIS HEAD THAT HE WILL ACT ON, IN THE NEAR FUTURE. HE HAS A SEVERE PROBLEM. "DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FINDING A JOB DUE TO BEING, "DROP DEAD GEORGEOUS"? JUST ASK ME...I LIVE THROUGH THIS FORM OF IGNORANCE DAILY. IT IS NOT EASY AND DEFINITELY A DISEASED FORM OF DISCRIMINATION, HATE, JEALOUSLY AND IS UNACCEPTABLE. HE SHOULD HAVE HIS LICENSE REVOKED AND BURIED, WHEREAS HE CANNOT PRACTICE DENTISTRY ANYMORE, THEN HE WOULD EXPERIENCE HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND A JOB BEING "UGLY". NEXT, HE SHOULD FIND WORK, WORKING ALONE...NOT AROUND WOMEN...PERHAPS IN A FIELD PULLING COTTON OR WEEDS, SINCE HE IS A POTENTIAL SEX OFFENDER, RAPIST...YOU NAME IT! THINK ABOUT IT...THE THOUGHTS THAT CONJURED IN HIS MIND OF THIS WOMAN BECAME UNBEARABLE FOR HIS PERVERTED MIND, THEREFORE HE TERMINATED HER. WHO KNOWS, HE PROBABLY CAME ON TO HER AND SHE REJECTED HIS OFFER/S. HIS ACTIONS ARE VOID OF PROFESSIONALISM AND TACT. EVIDENTALLY THIS IMMATURE, WEAK, UNPROFESSIONAL - SO CALLED PROFESSIONAL IS NOT HAPPY AT HOME. IF THIS CLOWN HAD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, HE WOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER CONTEMPLATING ON SUCH THOUGHTS OVER AND OVER IN HIS MIND OF HIS EMPLOYEE. ALSO THROUGH GOD, IF HE HAD OF PRAYED, WAITED ON, AND SOUGHT THE LORD'S FACE, THROUGH GOD HE WOULD OF HAD EVERYTHING AND MORE AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE OTHER WOMAN, SINCE HE WOULD HAVE EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTED AT HOME.

Kacey Koerwitz • Oct 12, 2013

More likely than she was too attractive, she was unresponsive to his advances that did not rise to the standard of sexual harassment. Men, although well meaning. still operate from the subconscious mind. Looking for potential lovers over qualified candidates. My wife has often been discriminated against for failure to fulfill her bosses fantasies rather than Her merit on the job. Women are no less guilty, often seeking school or jobs to get their "Mrs". The worst of these women are those in HR that select resumes of bachelors they would like to marry over more qualified candidates ones again to get their "Mrs". People are people, in the work place or not. Too often decisions are made to suit personal agendas over the real work to be preformed, or what is good for the company. This also happens between mediocre employees and true producers. Mediocre persons will often get rid of producers for fear they will look bad by comparison. Sad but true, human weakness often prevails over the right thing to do. .

CAthy Arsenault • Oct 12, 2013

Men are idots. Need I say more?

Can You Lose a Job For Being Too Attractive?

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