By now most HR folks have seen the articles about the Iowa worker who was fired for being “too irresistible“! If not, here a little of the back story:
Melissa Nelson, who is married with children, had worked for James Knight for 10 years before his wife complained about his infatuation with her. Nelson told the court that she had seen Knight as a father figure and a man of “integrity” who generally treated her with respect. But about nine years into the job, Knight started to complain that her clothes were “distracting” because they “accentuated her body,” and he sometimes asked her to cover up with her lab coat. At one point, Knight told Nelson that “if she saw his pants bulging, she would know her clothing was too revealing,” court records showed.
After she told him that his complaint about the tightness of her shirt wasn’t fair, he texted back that it was a good thing she didn’t wear tight pants too “because then he would get it coming and going,” the court records showed. And at one point when Knight discussed infrequency in Nelson’s sex life, he told her “that’s like having a Lamborghini in the garage and never driving it.” Knight’s wife, who also worked in the dental office, put her foot down when she discovered the two were texting each other. After meeting with their pastor, Knight agreed to fire Nelson because she was a “big threat to our marriage.”
…Since Nelson did not consider Knight’s behavior to be sexual harassment, the Iowa Supreme Court determined the question to be “whether an employee who has not engaged in flirtatious conduct may be lawfully terminated simply because the boss views the employee as an irresistible attraction.”
While Iowa law prohibits discrimination against employees based on gender, the all-male court ruled that Knight’s conduct was “unfair” but “did not amount to unlawful discrimination.”
Wow! This is crazy on so many levels it’s hard to even comprehend!
This is why, if you’re a dude, should should add in an attractiveness meter to your hiring process. Anyone over a 6, doesn’t make the next round (unless you have low standards, then feel free to add in some 5’s). Believe me, this is hard for me to say – I’m the original one who advocated for you to hire beautiful people, not because they’re pretty, but because science has proven they perform better! Kris Dunn is the one who says hire ugly people – because, well, he has low standards and lives in Alabama!
Honestly, I truly feel for Mrs. Nelson – let’s face it her boss was a creeper and if Iowans have any morals at all they will stop using him as a Dentist and he’ll go out business. Let’s all hope this happens! Also, this should really teach all beautiful women a good lesson. If you’re really that beautiful, why are you working!? Beautiful women are suppose to be going to Yoga classes and having lunch with their other beautiful girlfriends on their rich husband’s Platinum American Express card, before heading over to the upscale mall to pick out some new shoes – not working. Overall, good lessons to be learned from this entire story!
“Kris Dunn is the one who says hire ugly people – because, well, he has low standards and lives in Alabama!” <- HAHAHA! For the record, Alabama has beautiful people… hello I live here.
Epic! Love the Yoga class comment – lol
I agree with hiring beautiful people though. I remember The Ballad of Ken & Barbie webinar and agree with your beautiful people stance. As an egotistical beautiful person it’s only self-serving that I have that stance ;-)~
LR –
I’m sure Ken was probably thinking the same thing… 😉
T.
Why do you think I quit my job at the conspiracy?
Beautiful women are suppose to be going to Yoga classes and having lunch with their other beautiful girlfriends on their rich husband’s Platinum American Express card, before heading over to the upscale mall to pick out some new shoes – not working.