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進入《中英對照讀新聞》Employers can fire workers they find too sexy, Iowa court rules 愛荷華州法院：雇主有權解雇過於性感的員工
◎陳成良
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled on Friday that employers in the state can legally fire workers they find too attractive.
愛荷華州最高法院週五裁定，該州的雇主可以合法地開除他們認為過於有吸引力的員工。
In a unanimous decision, the court held that a dentist did not violate the state’s civil rights act when he terminated a female dental assistant whom his wife considered a threat to their marriage.
該法院一致判定，一名解雇牙科診所女助理的牙醫並未觸犯該州民權法。牙醫的妻子認為該女助理對他們的婚姻構成威脅。
The dental assistant, Melissa Nelson, who worked for dentist James Knight for more than 10 years and had never flirted with him, according to the testimony of both parties, sued, saying she would not have been fired if she were a man.
根據雙方的證詞，這名牙科助理叫梅麗莎．尼爾遜，為牙醫詹姆士．奈特工作超過10年，從未跟他調情。她提告，稱如果她是男的，就不會遭解雇。
At trial, Knight testified he had complained to Nelson on several occasions that her clothing was too tight, revealing and "distracting."
奈特出庭時作證稱，他曾數次向尼爾遜抱怨，指她的衣著過於緊身、暴露和「令人分心」。
But sometime in 2009, he also began exchanging text messages with Nelson. Most of these were work-related and harmless, according to testimony. But others were more suggestive, including one in which Knight asked Nelson how often she had an orgasm.
根據證詞，2009年某個時間點，奈特開始與尼爾遜互傳簡訊，內容大多與工作相關，沒有問題。但其他簡訊的內容頗具暗示性，包括一則奈特詢問尼爾遜性高潮頻率的簡訊。
In early 2010, he fired her, saying their relationship had become a detriment to his family.
2010年初，奈特解雇了Nelson，稱他們的關係損害了他的家庭。
The high court ruled that bosses can fire workers they find too attractive and that such actions do not amount to unlawful discrimination.（Reuters）
該院最終裁定，雇主可以解雇他們認為過於有吸引力的員工，這種舉動不構成非法歧視。（路透）
新聞辭典
unanimous：形容詞，全體一致的；一致同意的。例句：They reached unanimous agreement. （他們達成一致的意見。）
flirt：動詞，調情。例句：She flirted with David.（她與大衛眉來眼去。）
detriment︰名詞，損害。例句：Are you sure that I can follow this diet without detriment to my health?（你確定我可以這樣吃來減肥，不會傷身體嗎？）
