1 in 4 would consider cosmetic treatment to look younger at work

In an ideal world, every employee and job candidate would be considered on their qualifications for the job. But we know better. Despite federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, we know that bias can creep into the workplace.

We worry that our looks can matter just as much as our resume. Forty-three percent of American tech workers said they worried about losing their jobs over their older age. More than 40 percent of Americans identified as obese said they faced daily stigma about their weight, a new Highline report details.

Facing this intense scrutiny, employees are taking their looks into their own hands. To stay competitive in the workplace, many employees are researching plastic surgery, a new survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of RealSelf, an online cosmetic marketplace, found out.

Employees considering cosmetic treatment ‘to appear youthful at work’

Of the 2,000 Americans adults surveyed, one in three were considering a cosmetic treatment like Botox, dental work or a tummy tuck in the next twelve months. And for many, these cosmetic treatments are being considered out of a motivation to look younger in the office. One in four said they were influenced by the desire to “appear youthful at work” or because they were “looking for or starting a new job.”

Beauty is a subjective standard that we use to judge our colleagues’ worth. Men may be feeling this pressure more than women. Men were twice as likely as women to report that a desire to look young at work or start the job hunt with a new body were factors, at a 36% rate compared to women’s 18% rate.

How you look is proven to make a difference with how your coworkers see you as a leader. One study found that men with hair transplants were seen as more attractive, approachable, and successful than men without them. The stakes are high to physically manage other people’s perceptions. How we present ourselves at work is the first impression we show others. Some of us are willing to physically transform ourselves so that the impression in our head matches what we want others to see.