ST Alpha - "ST Poll: American Apparel's Dov Charney is allegedly firing all the "ugly" employees after a dip in sales. Are such company actions understandable?" (Reading a Post)

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ST Poll: American Apparel's Dov Charney is allegedly firing all the "ugly" employees after a dip in sales. Are such company actions understandable?

Posted by Hotkiss (aka hotkiss7348) Jul 27 '09, 08:30

AA and Abercrombie/Hollister are arguably the two most well-known for doing so in order to preserve the brand image associated with the company.

Do we think it's discrimination to hire only beauties or is it pure brand equity retention?

Responses:

sure it is although it's pritty tough to be a great salesperson if people find you extreemly ugly - Danedukenuuk Jul 27, 08:36
"if I wasn't so ugly I could get someone to knock me up then I could sue their ass" -- nm - Beaker Jul 27, 08:35
What a clothing company's large size is a size 6 they have a problem. -- nm - lileve Jul 27, 08:33 1
- What=When -- nm - lileve Jul 27, 08:35
AA's sales dropped b/c people realized the clothes they sale are stupidly overpriced - MDH Jul 27, 08:32 2
- I buy woot shirts. they're AA, and like 1/3 the price. -- nm - safari for windows *loves* mandy lane Jul 27, 08:45
- hanes at walmart is even cheaper -- nm - lileve Jul 27, 08:34
i am pretty sure it is illegal to be fired from a sales job for "ugliness". it must be. -- nm - TFox Jul 27, 08:31 45
- [deleted] 1
  - I'm not only the President, I'm a client. -- nm - Clint Howard Jul 27, 08:39
- A lot of places require prettiness for hiring. go to a trendy restaurant in Manhattan and see who's serving you. -- nm - loosilu Jul 27, 08:32 2
  - I know people do that unofficially, hire the hot chick and so on. But not "you're fired because you look like a warted anus." -- nm - TFox Jul 27, 08:35
  - but that is before they are employed. -- nm - Beaker Jul 27, 08:33
- [deleted] 32
  - Really? You can't fire someone for being black, but you can fire them for having asymmetrical facial features? -- nm - TFox Jul 27, 08:32 31
    - Ugly strippers unite! -- nm - con_carne Jul 27, 08:37
    - When was the last time you went to a chain restaurant or a pub and were served by an ugly waitress? - Reagen Jul 27, 08:35 3
      - Again, I have no doubt it is a widespread unofficial hiring preference. -- nm - TFox Jul 27, 08:37
      - Elaine Benis would sue their ass -- nm - Beaker Jul 27, 08:36
      - in Soho your waitresses are pretty much models. -- nm - loosilu Jul 27, 08:36
    - [deleted] 8
      - [deleted] 7
        
        also, imagine the lawsuit. "Your honour, look at me. I'm hideous." -- nm - Reagen Jul 27, 08:36 6
        
        [deleted] 5
        
        "I'd do her" -- nm - Juror #7 Jul 27, 08:39 3
        
        "I'd like Juror Redmond to be excused from this trial" -- nm - Roger More Jul 27, 08:40
        
        "I knew I should have vetoed that Redmond guy." -- nm - Reagen Jul 27, 08:40 1
        
        dammit! -- nm - Roger More Jul 27, 08:40
        
        "We, the jury, find the defendant a 3." -- nm - Reagen Jul 27, 08:39
    - Being ugly isn't a protected class. -- nm - pmb Jul 27, 08:33 16
      - But what if you're black and ugly? -- nm - Beryllium Jul 27, 08:40 1
        
        "I find black people ugly, so it's not that we're firing you because you are black. I just find the look of you awfully unappealing and non-sexual." -- nm - TFox Jul 27, 08:41
      - That seems so ludicrous to me. -- nm - TFox Jul 27, 08:34 13
        
        I suppose it can kind of be compared to modeling or acting, those both hire based on looks as well. -- nm - Ender Jul 27, 08:39 2
        
        There was a case a long time ago (IIRC) involving Braniff airlines. Their stewardess used to wear hot pants back in the 60's and early 70's and that - pmb Jul 27, 08:43
        
        high end retail sales is notorious for it as well. -- nm - loosilu Jul 27, 08:40
        
        only 'cause you're ugly. -- nm - mafic Jul 27, 08:38
        
        sez you, ugmo -- nm - Roger More Jul 27, 08:38
        
        [deleted] 2
        
        Yeah, but by that logic, traditional marketing logic was that black cereal boxes didn't sell, but you can't apply that to your employees. -- nm - TFox Jul 27, 08:38 1
        
        [deleted]
        
        Because you can't dispute black but you can dispute ugly -- nm - Hotkiss Jul 27, 08:35 1
        
        If someone says "you're fired cause you look like smashed butt", it doesn't matter if you agree that you are ugly. -- nm - TFox Jul 27, 08:36
        
        agreed -- nm - Beaker Jul 27, 08:35
        
        Thank god you ain't in sales.... (nm) - Will Hunting Jul 27, 08:35 1
        
        anyone that fired me for my looks hates having money. fact. -- nm - TFox Jul 27, 08:38
- Sure, but the company could easily come up with a reason why that employee is underperforming as an excuse -- nm - Hotkiss Jul 27, 08:32 6
  - In most states they don't need any excuse. It's pretty heartless though. -- nm - pmb Jul 27, 08:34 4
    - heartless? we are talking AA here... -- nm - colinski Jul 27, 08:37
    - I thought companies need a legitimate and documented reason to fire -- nm - Hotkiss Jul 27, 08:34 2
      - In most states, employees are "at will". They can be fired for any reason or no reason. But they can get unemployment insurance if they are not - pmb Jul 27, 08:35
      - not in "at will" employment. -- nm - loosilu Jul 27, 08:35
  - I doubt if that would fly -- nm - Beaker Jul 27, 08:33

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ST Poll: American Apparel's Dov Charney is allegedly firing all the "ugly" employees after a dip in sales. Are such company actions understandable?

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