Mirror, mirror on the wall, whose star will rise above them all? The best looking of the bunch, that’s who. American workers who are plain, unattractive or overweight can expect to earn less than their better looking or thinner colleagues.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to alter this unconscious prejudice. Dr. Gordon L. Patzer is a renowned researcher on the topic, director and founder of the Appearance Research Institute at Roosevelt University in Chicago and author of the best-seller Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined. In his 2008 book Dr. Patzer outlines how people blessed with good looks earn almost 10 percent more than their average looking colleagues and are more likely to get hired and promoted. He calls this the “Physical Attractiveness Phenomenon” in which appearance infers info that triggers assumptions, expectations, attitudes and behaviors—ultimately benefiting those who appearance is judged higher in physical attractiveness.
A 2007 survey conducted by Elle magazine and MSNBC.com polled more than 60,000 online respondents. It revealed that better looking bosses were rated more competent, collaborative and better at delegating. Interestingly, while the premium placed on good looks on the workplace appeared significant to men and women, one area where the respondents differed was on how individuals saw themselves judged on the job. Women (61 percent) said they thought men judged them on their looks, followed by work ethic (54 percent) and accomplishments (49 percent). Men believe female colleagues judge them on work ethic first (43 percent), accomplishments (40 percent) and looks (32 percent). So, are men delusional when it comes to the role looks play in the world of work? Do women have an advantage because they are more aware of the dynamics of personal impressions?
Beyond looks, it seems we also have to worry about the fat factor. According to the Council on Size and Weight Discrimination, studies have shown that job applicants and workers who are larger than average face discrimination and prejudice in every aspect of employment. This discrimination is worse for women, who experience discrimination even if they are just slightly larger than average. For example, workers who are heavier than average are paid $1.25 less an hour. Over a 40-year career, they will earn up to $100,000 less before taxes than their thinner counterparts. Slightly heavy women make about 6 percent less in wages than standard weight women. Very heavy women make 24 percent less. Men experience significant wage penalties only at the highest weight levels.
What about height? Yup, that plays a role, too. A 2003 study by the University of Florida revealed that short people may be short-changed when it comes to their careers and just a few inches can cost thousands of dollars. The study showed that each inch in height amounted to about $789 more per year in pay. This means that someone who is 6 feet tall can expect to earn $5,525 more per year than a 5-foot-5-inch associate!
The truth is we live in a culture that sometimes—maybe more often than we like—rewards beauty and other attributes unfairly, especially when not accompanied by on-the-job competence. There’s little we can do (not counting cosmetic surgery) to change our looks, but we can pay attention to grooming, wardrobe, body language, speech and the confidence we exude as we interact with others at work. Employers who participated in a 2006 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) ranked certain attributes in conjunction with job candidate consideration. Here are some results showing “strong influence”:
• Grooming: 73 percent
• Non-traditional Interview Attire: 49 percent
• Handshake: 33 percent
• Body piercing: 31 percent
All of this reminds me of the 1890 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, who writes of a society that prizes beauty above all else. Writes Wilde more than 100 years ago, “To me, beauty is the wonder of wonders. It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearance.”
Nancy Schuman is a vice president at Lloyd Staffing, headquartered in Melville, and is the author of eight how-to books on career guidance and job-search techniques. Lloyd Staffing offers temporary, contract and full-time employment services on a regional and national basis. Send your career-related questions to [email protected].