Should companies hire attractive employees?

I. Reading Articles

Read the following articles and answer the questions that follow.

Article 1 – https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2320868/Thin-beautiful-customers-ONLY-How-Abercrombie–Fitch-doesnt-want-larger-people-shopping-stores.html

Comprehension Questions:

1. Which customers does Abercrombie and Fitch want to exclude?
2. Why does A&F only hire ‘good-looking’ people?
3. Name two controversial actions that A&F has taken.

Article 2 – https://gawker.com/5562965/american-apparels-complete-guide-to-grooming

Comprehension Questions:

1. According to Katherine Johnson, why does American Apparel enforce grooming standards for its employees?
2. Name three rules for female employees.
3. Name three rules for male employees.

II. Your Opinion

1. What are your opinions of each company?
2. Does one company’s policy seem more or less reasonable than the other?
3. Which groups of people are alienated or marginalized by A&F and AA’s policies?

III. More Articles

Article 1 – https://www.aol.com/2013/06/08/jobs-site-beautiful-people/?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALTE56QrRyBCc3PYtmfWicRoU1YCGvLgSTCZaogEx7k3CYALQAV3uv27cmB0aR4blbhRcp_QjKzv_OwWbr33oTNCGSttT33tXvIlvbRdai3vtW9BFsxAHBqfyAl3JEWAQzWjkCRpVguxrtxzxm8z8TG5EwOZO9tFx4GFbHoBxYaV

According to the article, why is it a good policy to hire attractive employees?

Article 2 – https://www.mic.com/p/are-attractive-people-more-successful-at-work-19346852

According to the article, why is it a bad policy to hire attractive employees?

IV. Homework Questions:

1. Do you think it is fair for companies to hire attractive employees only? Why?
2. Do you think it is fair for companies to have strict grooming policies? Why?
3. Which groups of people are alienated or marginalized by strict hiring and grooming policies like these?
4. Regardless of the ethical problems, do you think that these policies can be beneficial for companies? Do these policies help them to earn more money, or do they hurt the companies because they give them a negative public image? Why?
5. Give at least one example of another company that creates an exclusive public image or only serve a certain type of customer. (Think: in the French context)