Look at your job!

Height can be a touchy topic. But we have opened it up for debate. An Australian university's study stating that taller people get paid more seems to have uncovered a deep-seated complex in our society. The situation got out of control in China, where leg-lengthening surgeries were banned in 2006, after a number of ambitious youngsters suffered from botched surgeries. But their aspirations, which were earlier ridiculed, may just have gained some credibility with this study. Do the vertically-challenged get a raw deal everywhere? How important are looks in determining if you get hired or fired?

Taller people get paid more.

Payment does not, or rather should not, depend on heights or looks. However, employers may have certain complexes, which would make a big difference to the employees' performance and pay. So, the superiority complex attached with a taller person makes a difference to the kind of job they get. Good-looking people are bound to get better pay.
Samar Tauqir
Sharjah

Looks matter a lot at work, but there should be a brain to go with it. I have been working in the UAE for almost 20 years and have been rarely rejected for a job. And the main reason was my beauty along with other natural qualities I possess. I don't believe that beauty alone would serve the purpose for hiring a person for a job & A professional manager would not hire anyone solely because of his or her looks.
Zahrah J. Saleh
Sharjah

I can personally attest to the fact that taller people get paid higher. Many top executives in North America are at least 5 feet and 10 inches and this holds true for both men and women. Another example is the highest paid sportsmen in the world - Tiger Woods is 6 feet 1 inch and David Beckham is 5 feet and 11 inches tall. Appearances also make a big difference to how you are treated at the workplace.
Faiza Syed
Toronto, Canada

I have to admit that I do not find any of the statements correct and am not sure if there is enough data to prove them. Most people get what they deserve, over a long period of time. You are & liked because of what you have to offer to the employer and not how tall, short or fat you are. In some fields, like sales and marketing, your looks do matter to a certain extent, but that does not overshadow your skill.
Ghanshyam Vasudeo Rao
Dubai

Fatter people tend to be more popular in the workplace.

I have seen shorter people getting paid more, based on their input and hard work. Pretty people tend to be more famous in the workplace, but it is not necessary that they get promoted based on their appearance. I do not agree with these generalisations, so, could we have more sensible data the next time?
Mariam Ali
Sharjah

To an extent, looks do make a difference, but this is not a rule. While sometimes fatter people may seem more popular, there have been cases where they are despised. While first impressions may be based on looks, in the long run, it is more important whether you can stand them or not. The workplace is competitive and people are given their dues based on merit and not how they look or how much they weigh.
Faisal Khan
Toronto, Canada

I guess people on the healthier side can be popular only if they have a very strong personality, so that weight doesn't hinder their work or social life. But that doesn't usually happen. Every day, in so many ways, fat people hear that they don't fit in. Honestly, it is our fault&Onlookers make derogatory remarks about their weight and their character and harass them. Popularity, for most, is unheard of.
Roydon D'mello
Karachi, Pakistan

This could be a popular perception, probably because fatter people tend to have a good sense of humour, which may be a way of dealing with certain views about being fat. However, I would like to add that I am currently on a weight-reduction diet myself! But, I do feel that the way you dress and feel about yourself makes a difference at the office, because that is what you project...
Paul Gardiner
Dubai

Good-looking people get promoted faster.

Good looks might get you a job, but you would get a promotion only when you demand for opportunities to perform or are lucky to get a chance to prove yourself at work. Exceptions are in the marketing sector, where you have to market yourself, the company's products and the result can take you up the ladder and your pleasant looks win you a promotion.
Sreejith Kumar
Dubai

Good-looking people may be eye candy to many, but that does not really work out in getting a promotion. People perform, and hence excel, irrespective of their appearances. I have never come across an instance where employees do not get promoted because of their appearance. Instead, hard work, sincerity and overall performance justify and fetch you that promotion&
Sasmita Devi
Sharjah

Definitely, there is a distinct advantage to good looks when people enter the workforce. The good-looking ones are more likely to get hired, especially when they have the needed education. But at the same time, it would be incorrect to say that good looks form the base to quickly climb the corporate ladder. To excel at one's job, talent and hard work are more important.
Roshni Ahuja
Dubai

People bestowed with good looks are really lucky, and it holds true especially for women. Good-looking and handsome candidates are also given priorities in certain categories. Often academic qualification, experience and talent are overlooked. Advertisements often mention that the candidates should be "presentable". It is natural to be attracted to good looks. So, look is luck.
Mustafa Abdo
Abu Dhabi

Unconventional looks mean you get sacked first.

I think it would depend on the situation. It is common for employees to look around while at work. It is impossible to continuously work on a computer for eight hours, and employees need a break. However, these breaks can be misinterpreted. The management presumes that something is wrong and sacks a person for no valid reason&
Subramaniam Sharma
Dubai

I believe it depends on your boss. Sad as it may be, it's very difficult to find people who are not easily swayed by attractive looks and external appearances. But these days, with so much of competition in the job market, good qualifications and job experience do matter. However, no one can deny the importance of looking well-groomed and presentable. If you are confident and sure of yourself, then the world is yours!
Jerusha Sequeira
Dubai

I actually find all these statements hilarious. But what I find to be funnier is the fact that somebody had the time to do an actual study on this! If I am not hired because of my looks, I think I must count myself as lucky. And there is always scope for talent, hard work, perseverance and knowledge. If you are judged by your looks, don't be discouraged. It's not a verdict. You still have a long way to go.
Loveena Rajalaxshmy
Abu Dhabi

Good looks definitely work and help you throughout your career. Employers would love to have employees having a pleasing personality. Also, if this comes along with good communication skills, then these qualities would surely help. Good dress sense is also important, but in the long run, it is your capability, efficiency and skills that count.
Saifee Mansour Tarwala
Dubai

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