Despite the current economic climate, the cosmetic surgery industry appears to be booming. Figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) suggest that the UK is quickly following in the footsteps of the US. Americans spent more than $13bn (£6.6bn) on 11.7 million cosmetic surgery and non-surgical procedures in 2007. In the same year, the number of procedures in the UK increased by 12.2% from the previous year. But why do employers need to know about this?
This increasing trend for elective cosmetic surgery is having an impact on the workplace. More and more employees are requesting time off work for their surgery, recovery and aftercare appointments. Understandably, most employers simply do not know how to react. For many, it will be the first time they have received such a request, and their subsequent response can give rise to a legal minefield.
