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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think acne is no reason to turn someone down for a job?

57 replies

SkullPointerException · 19/09/2018 06:24

Just what it says in the title, really. This was something that came up during a panel discussion on potential hires yesterday.

As it happens, the colleague who mentioned it, HR and myself were all in agreement that he wasn't suitable for the position anyway and for other reasons, so I never had to decide whether or not to kick up a fuss over the comment.

I'm still massively taken aback that a senior person in a large enterprise would come out with that, though.

It's true that we face clients in our daily work, but we're professionals, not cosmetics sales staff. And, yes, I know it's not attractive when it's severe.

Having said that, IMO it pushes the boundaries of discrimination really hard. I couldn't turn someone down for a job they can physically do because they're in a wheelchair (that's illegal) but acne is somehow okay?

AIBU or is my colleague?

OP posts:
Singlebutmarried · 19/09/2018 06:29

Weeeeellll

Depends on the job role and the level of acne.

Eg. Open weeping pustules and a job preparing handling food wouldn’t be brilliant.

ArrivisteRevolt · 19/09/2018 06:29

YANBU.

If I was running a very customer facing business (cosmetics, expensive food), I might think twice about hiring someone with acne. Maybe.

But in all other circumstances this seems actually just so wrong. You could be a good professional with acne!

foxyknoxy30 · 19/09/2018 06:33

Well I have adult acne and it would fucking kill me to think I would not be hired due to this,it's hard enough to deal with without things like this 🙁

AllyMcBeagle · 19/09/2018 06:34

Legally, you can't discriminate against people with disabilities and "severe disfigurement" can count as a disability (Equality Act 2010, Sched 1, pars 3). This could in theory include eg severe acne scarring, but probably wouldn't include most acne.

It does seem like a silly reason though in any event.

Original poster
SkullPointerException · 19/09/2018 06:41

I obviously can't say who exactly I work for. But it's professional services and the role isn't one where you'd touch food or even habitually touch people beyond the obligatory handshake. The job basically consists of making your subject matter expertise available to clients in exchange for money.

And, yes, the acne was noticeable and quite severe (probably more so to me seeing as colleague had mentioned it before I interviewed the candidate) but by no means oozing. I've honestly seen worse.

@foxyknoxy30, that's why I was so upset by it. I don't have adult acne but I did as a teen. It was upsetting enough without people also denying me employment because of it. I'm sorry people are such dicks!

OP posts:
BarnabyBungle · 19/09/2018 06:42

Not hiring someone due to their acne is a very shallow and rather nasty thing to do. I would massively think less of someone for it....

It’s barely a leap from that not to hire someone because they are too short, or not busty enough, or black Hmm

InstagramPork · 19/09/2018 06:50

That’s awful. But the truth is in so many industries (particularly customer facing roles) people are hired because of their looks. It’s sad but it really does happen, first impressions have a big impact.
If the choice was between two equally competent candidates I honestly think in most situations the most presentable (and sometimes the most attractive) person is picked.

AjasLipstick · 19/09/2018 06:51

I think I'd complain to be quite frank. It's a disgusting attitude and I'd rather look at someone's acne than be near someone who judged others on their appearance like that.

WhirlwindHugs · 19/09/2018 06:52

I think that's ridiculous. I'm sure a good lawyer could argue discrimination.

There's no hygiene factor when someone has adult acne either! That's ridiculous too. If someone's poor hygiene at the age of applying for a professional job at twenty or thirty+ was the cause of their acne - as opposed to the much more common hormone problems or extremely sensitive skin - then there would be other much more obvious signs that hygiene was a problem than their skin.

Thatstheendofmytether · 19/09/2018 06:52

Well this thread makes me feel sad.

Original poster
SkullPointerException · 19/09/2018 06:52

It does make me think less of my colleague, actually. Along with some other stuff he came out with during the day - all to do with the impression candidates leave and how they present rather than their skill set.

It also made me feel strangely self-conscious about my own appearance. My first thought was literally 'oh, crap, I should have gone for a blow out, shouldn't I?'

OP posts:
Mablethorpe · 19/09/2018 06:56

Your manager sounds like a complete tool and I'd be thinking about talking to HR if I was in your position.

I work in house building and I've heard some un-pc things in my time but never anything like this.

Polarbearflavour · 19/09/2018 07:00

Most people have occasional acne flare ups, I do! Just because someone interviews with clear skin, they could still have a flare up on the job...and then what?!!

I worked for an airline in the Middle East that grounded people for having acne and would eventually sack you. Moved to an airline in the UK and nobody batted an eyelid at having bad skin!

malovitt · 19/09/2018 07:02

Guardian yesterday

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 19/09/2018 07:04

It’s barely a leap from that not to hire someone because they are too short, or not busty enough, or black hmm

Well legally there is a massive leap there.

Whether or not it’s discrimination will come down to it being a disability or not as said above.

Leaving all the legalities aside it’s really shitty behaviour and I’d think a lot less of the colleague and the organisation.

Original poster
SkullPointerException · 19/09/2018 07:09

With regard to complaining: the thing is, one of our HR reps was sitting right there with us at the time, so they know alright.

It might make a small difference if I complained because, somehow, it always tends to carry more weight when it's management getting upset - but it's really not as though they didn't have the chance to put him in his place right there and then.

OP posts:
HunnidBands · 19/09/2018 07:16

This is horrendous.

A few things to note.

People with acne are in no way ‘dirty’ - their skin reacts in a different way to those who don’t get zits. They are just as fucking clean.

People with acne generally already hate themselves and think they are less because of this thing they cannot control.

Other people discriminating against them lessens even more their feelings of self worth.

To actually lose a job because of this? Fucking hell. I would wish festering pustules upon anyone who would do this.

Cunts

HunnidBands · 19/09/2018 07:19

Depends on the job role and the level of acne.

Are you fucking joking! What difference does it make? I hope you get acne And are forced to reconsider your prejudice

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/09/2018 07:24

This makes me really sad. My DSs both have/had severe acne, they've done roaccutane and DS2 is clear but with significant scarring and poor DS1 has his acne back and waiting for an appointment with dermatology again. Both have little confidence now and additionally don't really have the option of make up that girls do. The courage it takes to put yourself out there and attend interviews in the first place shouldn't be underestimated. I think there should be a bit of education done with people doing interviews to have a bit of compassion about where people might be in their head when being interviewed.

HunnidBands · 19/09/2018 07:32

To explain my anger about this - although I also don’t think I should need to - my best friend at school had ‘bad’ skin. Even that adjective when used to describe something that was beyond her control annoys me. Why was something she hated and couldn’t control classed as ‘bad’?

Acne is a part of many people’s lives. No one asks for it. when you have it and people use adjectives like ‘bad’ it makes you feel even worse.

To actually lose a job over it? It’s just unfathomable.

Moominfan · 19/09/2018 07:38

I have a friend with acne, she's spent thousands on treatments, alternative treatments, eats really well yet still gets it. She's crippled with anxiety because of it. Has had therapy and still agonises over it. This has really saddened me. I'd be lying if I said I never noticed her acne, there have been times she's missed out on stuff because of flare ups, it's just such a big part of her life.

FrowningFlamingo · 19/09/2018 07:42

Open weeping pustules Hmm can't remember the last time I saw someone with open weeping pustules from acne that might drip into food!!

BookMeOnTheSudExpress · 19/09/2018 07:47

The thing is, in the instance in the OP, the panel had already decided the person wasn't right for the job, so you can't really call discrimination.

Had he been absolutely perfect, and then that same person had said "but sheesh, we can't hire him because of the acne" and the panel had agreed, then that would have been different.

How awful though. And I guess that if someone was turned down for a job there would be a plethora of neutral sops like "there were just other candidates that performed better at interview" and so the person would never know and the hirers would have their arses covered.

BarnabyBungle · 19/09/2018 07:47

Well legally there is a massive leap there.

Not massive at all... discriminating against someone for disfigurement is covered by the Equalities Act.

DemocracyDiesInDarkness · 19/09/2018 07:48

Overweight people get hired less too. People are great aren't they?