BUSINESS: American Apparel Hires Must Pass the Ugly Test

Resumés come a distant second to looks when retail giant American Apparel is making decisions about hiring and firing, an insider tells Gawker. Under a new policy, store managers are required to submit head-to-toe photos of all job applicants as well as those in line for a promotion or raise.

"Your looks determine your position and pay rate, not how effective you are at your job," the source says. American Apparel, when asked about the policy, referred to an earlier statement saying new hires are screened for style, not physical attractiveness. The insider, however, says "off-brand" is routinely used as an in-house euphemism for "overweight" or "ugly."