Would you hire someone without a front tooth?

[SparklyNewMe]

I am looking to fill a customer facing, well paid position for a large organisation.
I have interviewed a candidate with suitable experience, I can see him fitting in well with the team but 2 front teeth are missing. My DH is missing a front tooth for the last 2 months, it’s taking NHS that long and it’s been fitted today at last. So, I know it’s not a red flag in itself and can be circumstances. Maybe he cannot afford and does not plan to fix. But I can’t ask him outright about this, I can’t discriminate on this basis and also I can’t have someone represent our organisation like this. It maybe my own biases and it’s perfectly acceptable and I am precious?

Any advice on how to go about it will be greatly appreciated.

Yes, but someone’s attractiveness level being relevant to their success as a wider societal observation is not entirely relevant here. It should not be this way and we should strive to make decisions professionally to not reflect and support this.

I wouldn't for a customer facing role, especially if it involves selling anything. The best salespeople are above average attractive for a reason.

The vast majority of people can afford a private dentist but like saying money is the reason to not go, simply because they don't want to. Most pay for hairdressers for example, which is often a comparable price and completely optional. Same goes for many other things. People choose to spend their money how they like, that's fine, but for most saying they can't afford it is just wrong, what they mean is they don't prioritise it and don't want to go.

OP what do you mean red flag, circumstances. You aren't coming across well.

Yes.

No, you can't tell if neglect. There are numerous reasons for someone to be in this position.

I wouldn’t dream of hiring him because the lack of awareness that is indicated by the fact that he didn’t supply you with information about whether he was getting his teeth fixed suggests that he is clueless.

@MissDoubleU I'm not sure it is redundant to have a discussion about the fact appearance matters when it comes to work, just as it matters when it comes to dating, but there we go.

I accept it's not entirely relevant to the OP but I think it's an interesting discussion nonetheless.

Why is he obligated to disclose private information like this!? He might not know when he is able to get it “fixed” or perhaps he isn’t medically able to do anything at this stage.

So much hypocrisy from previous posters. Of course 99% of people would feel uncomfortable hiring someone for a customer facing role if they had front teeth missing. Yes, it’s unfortunate and unfair as it can be 100% not the person’s fault and private dentists are super expensive and the state the NHS is in bla bla bla but both things can co-exist surely? I wouldn’t hire a male nanny for my kids even if he was the absolute best candidate and if I had a company I wouldn’t hire someone without teeth for
a customer facing role, I believe people should have 100% of freedom when chosing an employee for their companies, I don’t even understand how you can prove some sort of discrimination between candidates as there are so many variables and biases when you’re chosing someone for a
vacancy, otherwise we would have an AI computer sorting through the CVs and that’s it.

Dont be ridiculous. As I said, my bottom two teeth had to be removed due to infection. I am considered above average attractiveness (not a flex) and Im a professional woman. It has cost me 5.5k to get it sorted and a YEAR!!!! I couldnt wear the NHS denture (that is all they will do - bridge wasnt possible for me) because it was so painful and the gums needed to heal. It is absolutely not anything like the same price as the hairdressers.

I very much doubt there's a contractual obligation to fuck either the OP or the customers.

He'll be fine.

@FigAndOlive what utter rubbish. I couldn't cate a less if the person serving me is missing a tooth so long as they are polite and efficient. I might even have a chat to them!

A male nanny? Why ever not.

Some of the responses on here are really disheartening and completely unfair. I get to some, physical appearances matter but it is really awful to dismiss and discriminate against someone who has a visual discrepancy. You dont know his circumstances, nor is it anyones business but does he not deserve to live a normal life because of that? Are you saying the only jobs he should be allowed to get are ones where he's hidden away from the public? There's a reason why there are laws to protect people from discrimination.

A few years ago I was assaulted very badly by an ex partner which left a very obvious 7cm scar down the side of my face. The battles I had to go through to not only heal but to feel comfortable in my own skin were huge. I now work in a very public facing role (retail) and not once has my scar put anyone off shopping there or engaging in conversation. No one even mentions it, staff or otherwise. To be told I don't fit a job role simply because my face would put off customers and its best look for a role where i hide away in the background, like some shameful object would erase way more of my character than my ex ever did.

To me skill and personality override looks. MN is full of people bashing those on benefits, but can you really blame some of those people when apparently their face doesn't fit to even be employed?!

Blimey, my hairdresser costs £20, that wouldn't even get me five minutes with the dentist.
My town has ZERO NHS dentists (not even for children), the one I go to is the cheapest in town and an appointment with the hygienist costs £90, or with the dentist its £50 before you've even had anything done.

I really wouldn’t want someone with missing teeth customer-facing. Rightly or wrongly, it doesn’t look good and has connotations of poor health and hygiene or poor behaviour, such as fighting.

Behind the scenes I wouldn’t care so much, if they showed aptitude for the role.

Good grief - the judgement and assumptions

Surely it's what you and say do not what you look like that should be important

I'm sure anyone you employ is grateful you condescend to consider their aptitude at some point

I wouldn't employ them for a customer facing role.

I would imagine so.

We've all been served by people with obvious physical imperfections. It's no reflection on them as a person or the business they're representing.

I went to a hardware store last year, and there was a female middle aged staff member with a full, spiky, goatee beard. Let's celebrate diversity in every form.

Hire him. Let's normalise diversity.

Customer facing, I'd probably see it as a bit of a negative. But if he was having a great manner and friendly personality then it would matter less.

I have a couple older male friends with front teeth missing. One was a teacher in a private school until recently when he retired. His employer never mentioned the missing teeth. Though obviously he had teeth when he started the job.

If he was by far the strongest candidate in other ways I probably would overlook it. Presumably he can get a denture at some point?

It's not fair really to judge people on appearance. But I do know it can happen.

Do his role involve biting anything or anyone?!

If not, it's irrelevant.

To the people asking would you not hire him if he had scarring or facial disfigurements, from someone currently looking for jobs and that has those due to an awful health situation and didn’t have them before, there are definitely people who wouldnt hire. Some people are massive twats about personal appearance, I’m considering moving to a bell tower, quasi moto style so people don’t have to look at me in horror.

i would hire him, people come in all shapes and disfigurements and what not for a whole variety of issues, the people who he will be selling too won’t be picture perfect people, unless you’re hiring for a modelling agency.

I would say if he was otherwise clean and tidy then it might not be an issue BUT if its part of an overall scruffy appearance then I probably wouldn't hire him.
It may be unfair but the face of a company has to be of a certain minimum standard, not especialy good looking but definitely tidy and obviously missing teeth like that are not.
Also, his speech must be affected, does he need to be on the phone a lot or verbally interact with people in any way?