Should the employer ask the receptionist to fix her teeth if she is the "face" of the company?

I was just browsing around the NY Times and came across one of the Ethics columns. An employer was writing that his receptionist had 8 of her teeth knocked out and is stating she’s afraid of surgery. She’s not replaced them yet. It’s possible and also likely she does not have the funds that might be required for the uncovered portion of the dental bills, too. However, the employer is stating that she is the “face” of the company. When people come to the offices, the receptionist is who they see. Not only is her appearance affected, but with 8 teeth missing, it’s very possible her speech is affected, also.

Some in the column are suggesting that maybe it’s time for the receptionist to find employment elsewhere.

What do you think? The people participating in the discussion are doing so from an ethical/moral standpoint, not a legal standpoint. One of the participants compared the similarities and differences to what it would be like if she were overweight.

Read details: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/26/magazine/should-i-ask-my-secretary-to-fix-her-teeth.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fthe-ethicist&contentCollection=magazine&action=click&module=NextInCollection&region=Footer&pgtype=article