Opinion of headhunters about the ability of strabismic subjects to obtain employment.
BACKGROUND
Through the opinion of Swiss headhunters, we wanted to determine the influence of strabismus on the ability to obtain employment.


METHODS
Out of 31 randomly selected Swiss headhunters, 20 could be interviewed using a validated questionnaire.


RESULTS
Forty-seven percent of the headhunters judged that strabismic subjects have more difficulties in obtaining a job. Gender has no influence on discrimination (p > 0.1). Asked about six facial disfigurements, strabismus was found to have the second largest negative impact on employment directly after acne. Strabismus was estimated to decrease the attractiveness of job applicants (p < 0.0001) and to have a negative impact on the overall judgment of a potential employer (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Visible strabismus influences negatively the ability to obtain a job. Because of its impact on the employability of a person, we believe that strabismus surgery in adults cannot be considered to be only a beautifying procedure.
Mojon-Azzi
Stefania Margherita
SM
Research Institute for Labour Economics and Labour Law, University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Mojon
Daniel Stéphane
DS
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D019066:Facies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007586:Job Application; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D013285:Strabismus / Q000473:pathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014830:Vocational Guidance