EOC Week 4: Physical Attractiveness

This week I will be getting into the nitty gritty of physical attractiveness. The question that so many people ask what is human resources looking for? Do tattoos, personal hygiene and scars play a huge factor in getting that one job or not getting that job? An employer can no longer seek out preferred individuals based on non-job-related factors such as age, gender, or physical attractiveness. Those that do so may be confronted with significant legal problems. For example, if you applied for a high end office job and you had “SUCK IT” on your knuckles; do you really think that they would take you serious enough, even if you were more than qualified? Many places are looking for people to not just do the job but represent their company and their brand and if you have “SUCK IT” displayed on your knuckles than that’s putting a damper on the brand and the company itself. I am a huge advocate of tattoo and have six myself. But the difference is, is that all my tattoos are in places that I can cover and if they aren’t then they are appropriate and non-offensive. In many hospitality organizations, physical attractiveness is unquestionably a factor used to select employees in such positions as front-of-the-house food servers and hotel front desk agents. Employers are often uncomfortable dealing with hygiene problems such as body odor, incontinence, or inappropriate clothing. Some employers try to deal with these problems indirectly by sending anonymous notes or leaving soaps and deodorants on the employee’s desk. By instituting company-wide workplace hygiene policies, this delicate issue can be handled properly and without offending anyone. The workplace should be clean and safe; employees should be exposed to a minimum of germs. These policies are important regardless of industry, but incredibly important for food service and companies that regularly deal directly with the public. So just remember, if you have inappropriate tattoos hide them, there are make-ups that are specific for tattoo hiding, or if you’re thinking about getting a tattoo get it in a place that you can cover up via clothing. And lastly, dress appropriately, you can ask HR what is the dress code, and be considerate of others when dealing with gems.