Nine out of 10 people with facial disfigurements are affected by prejudice in the workplace.

A study by charity Changing Faces reveals people with facial disfigurements are likely to be marginalised in life and at work because little is expected of them.

It found that although all respondents claimed to have no prejudice against those with facial disfigurements, in reality nine out of 10 of those surveyed held implicit prejudices. Those surveyed had difficulty associating positive words but easily associated negative words with images of people with facial disfigurements.

The survey technique used was an Implicit Attitude Test in which participants sorted a number of images of people with and without facial disfigurements and to assign positive and negative words to them from a supplied list, to show how attractive, sociable, happy and successful they find the images.

James Partridge, Founder and Chief Executive of Changing Faces who has a facial disfigurement from burns as an 18 year old, said: "It's vital that people understand that their own attitudes and behaviour influence how people with disfigurements are considered and treated. We want to live in a society in which everyone is valued for the unique contribution that they can make – it should not be acceptable that people are treated unfairly because of the way that they look."

In response to the survey, Changing Faces has launched a Face Equality campaign. Over the next three to five years it aims to raise awareness of the facial prejudice and discrimination that people with disfigurements face every day.

Key elements of the Face Equality campaign include a nationwide advertising campaign, an online 'day in the life' film and ‘calls to action’ for improvements to be made in health care, education, recruitment practice, customer service, media portrayals and public policy.

Nicola Brewer, CEO, Equality and Human Rights Commission said: "Only the bravest organisations talk about subjects that most people would rather ignore. Changing Faces is one of those organisations. It does a remarkable job raising awareness of this important issue and challenges negative attitudes to facial disfigurement. We welcome this positive and inspirational campaign which shows that how you look should be nothing to do with what you can achieve."

For more information, visit www.changingfaces.org.uk