PH snack brand Potato Corner draws flak for offensive criteria on job ad

Philippine snack brand, Potato Corner has come under fire for its job advertisements that featured insensitive qualifications related to physical appearances. 

In an advertisement that has now been deleted, the brand stated that it was looking for employees who have "good visual impact", whose "weight was proportionate to height", and who had "clear complexion, eyesight and [a] good set of teeth".

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In a statement sent to media in the Philippines, Potato Corner stated that it deeply regrets the oversight, highlighting that it is committed to fostering an inclusive environment for its employees. It reportedly went on to say that it firmly believes in the diversity and inclusion of what the brand provides to its guests and business partners, stating that it does not support or condone discriminatory hiring practices.

The management added that the mishap occurred as it did not go through its main office. Potato Corner’s statement concluded by saying that it remains committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, valued and is given a chance to contribute and succeed.

Using attractive folks to push products to consumers is not new. Late last year, Chinese coconut milk brand Coconut Palm also faced heat for inviting women in tight tops and shorts to dance and promote its products in a livestream on Douyin. The brand, which was previously known for falsely claiming its products make women’s breasts bigger, saw women dancing in front of the camera with each holding a can of coconut milk.

More and more companies today also have to be careful on how they come across in job ads. In 2021, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart apologised after receiving widespread anger from the public as it asked female job applicants about their plans to have children, and if so, when. This question sparked a public outcry on Weibo with the accusation of making money from women while exploiting them. 

Netizens on Weibo said that employers would worry about how a female employee can balance her life and work after giving birth to two or three children. In response to the public anger, Pop Mart said some of its branches did not follow internal policies when asking this question. 

According to a report by Qualtrix, since the pandemic, consumers not only care about how they are treated, but also how businesses treat their employees. Nearly half of consumers (47%) said they would trust a brand more if they took care of their employees, which was just behind taking care of customers (66%).

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