Empirical research has proven that physically attractive workers enjoy greater success in the labor market, and can earn up to 15% more than those considered less attractive.
In her recently published article, Eva Sierminska writes that a "beauty premium" exists in society, and less attractive people must work harder and be more productive in order to achieve the same wage as a beautiful colleague.
The effect is particularly prevalent in customer-facing roles such as salespersons, advertising executives, and customer service personnel. In certain cases, research finds, that hiring good-looking employees benefits the employer by increasing profitability and productivity.
Sierminska writes that implementing anonymous job applications, and banning photos on applications, is one method employers and policymakers can use to limit the level of appearance-based hiring discrimination.