Can I be fired for being pretty?
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Can I be fired for being pretty?
I was working at a country club; first as a life guard then was moved to waitress and beverage cart server. I was just fired because the male customers showed attention and they said I was a liability because they thought I would eventually file a sexual harassment suit. Now I am unemployed and did nothing to deserve it.
Asked on September 21, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, Mississippi
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
The general rule is that an employee at will - which is an employee that does not have an employment contract in place with their employer - can quit or be fired for any reason other than a discriminatory one. Firing someone based upon discrimination grounds usually means race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, etc. Being pretty is not one of the categories protected under the law, although I can see how distasteful this is. I would consider speaking with an employment discrimination attorney. The whole idea of being fired because you are pretty or ugly or heavy or slim is fundamentally wrong and discriminatory on some level. Good luck to you.
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