Many surveys show being physically attractive in the workplace has its merits, but did you know that outside appearances can actually hamper career growth?

According to a new study by CareerBuilder, an employee’s disheveled appearance and unprofessional haircut can actively influence bosses’ decisions not to promote him or her.

Polling 2,175 hiring and human resource managers across industries and company sizes in the United States, the survey found 44% of bosses were less likely to promote a person who wore provocative clothing.

In addition, 43% stated they would also think twice about promoting a person with wrinkled clothes or shabby appearance.

The survey added that along with appearance, behaviours and attitudes also play a significant role in bosses’ decisions to give someone a more senior role.

Indeed, 62% of bosses also stated having a negative or pessimistic attitude could also hurt employees’ chances of landing a promotion.

“In addition to on-the-job accomplishments, employers also take attitude, behaviour and appearance into consideration when deciding who deserves to move up in the ranks,” said Rosemary Haefner, chief human resources officer at CareerBuilder.

“While your work performance may be strong, if you’re not presenting yourself in a professional manner, it may be preventing your superiors from taking you seriously.”

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Here are the top physical and behavioural aspects of an employee which might hurt their chances of a promotion:

Attitudes toward appearance

• Piercings outside of traditional ear piercings: 32%
• Attire that is too casual for the workplace: 27%
• Visible tattoos: 27%
• An unprofessional or ostentatious haircut: 25%
• Unprofessional or ostentatious facial hair: 24%
• Bad breath: 23%
• Heavy perfume or cologne: 21%
• Too much makeup: 15%

Behavioural blockades

Employers also revealed the top behaviours that hurt an employee’s chances for promotion, with poor attitudes and consistent tardiness taking the top spot.

• Having a negative or pessimistic attitude: 62%
• Regularly showing up to work late: 62%
• Using vulgar language: 51%
• Regularly leaving work early: 49%
• Taking too many sick days: 49%
• Gossiping: 44%
• Spending office time on personal social media accounts: 39%
• Neglecting to clean up after himself/herself: 36%
• Always initiating non-work-related conversations with co-workers: 27%
• Taking personal calls at work: 24%
• Taking smoke breaks: 19%

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