Why well-groomed employees are paid more

A lack of grooming could be holding back scruffy employees, with a new study linking those with a smart appearance to more frequent pay rises.

A study from Chicago and California Universities followed the career paths of 14,600 men and women over 13 years, starting when they were still at school – The Daily Mail reports.

They found that those who make the effort to appear neat and tidy - from their hair to clothes and make-up – typically earn around £11,000 a year more by the end of their twenties.

The study – published in the journal Research in Social Stratification and Mobility - found that being well turned-out was the key factor in predicting a person’s salary, regardless of looks, education, family background, weight or race.