Tattoos/Piercings in the Workplace
Hey everyone, Sorry if this has already been talked about but I don't have time to dig through every article about tattoos on here. First of all, a couple of disclaimers:
- Although I do have tattoos and piercings (ears + septum), they are nothing I can't hide. So I myself do not have a problem finding a job based on my body art.
- Yes, I do think there is a limit- if you're covered head to toe or so tattooed/pierced it's a major distraction, then other, less traditional, job types might be more appropriate for you. I just wanted to hear what everybody thinks of this topic and/or their experiences with tattoos and piercings in the workplace. Also, I do of course understand that having gang symbols/offensive imagery is unacceptable.
I have many tattoos including a half sleeve and a septum piercing. I can hide all of my art, but it's the fact that I feel I shouldn't have to that bugs me. True, there are many progressive or open-minded employers out there who don't mind body art, even many that actually prefer you to have some kind of tattoo or piercing. I interned at a crisis center recently and part of my job was to go to hospitals when there was a call and deliver advocacy/counseling. When I asked my supervisor if I needed to hide my tattoos/piercing, she said "Not at all, in fact, I'd prefer you didn't hide them". I also routinely communicated with detectives and a few of them asked about my sleeve: what's it mean/where I got it/the artist, etc., and they ended up telling me it's preferred that you have some type of tattoo in various law enforcement jobs as well. On the other hand though, there are many employers that want nothing to do with permanent body art. I interviewed at a zoo the other week, and the job description explicitly stated that any kind of tattoo/piercing (aside from earrings) must be covered/hidden at all times. Why? Do you think that getting inked will change my personality? Do you think it will change my work ethic? Do you think that just because I got a horse tattooed on my shoulder that I'm going to just, "poof", into a hardcore gangbanger? No, getting tattoos/piercings has absolutely no effect on an individual's personality, work ethic or morals, and it will certainly not all of a sudden turn them into a gangbanger. The notion that people with tattoos/piercing are criminals is an outdated prejudice. I personally believe that if an employer turns someone down, solely on the basis of their body art, then that should be considered discrimination and thus susceptible to the same legal scrutiny as any other form of wrongful discrimination. Tattoos are a permanent part of someone's body that cannot, in most cases, be removed. Yes, the tattoo was the individual's personal decision, but look at women who receive breast augmentations for cosmetic purposes, they don't get discriminated against because of their desire to enhance their physical appearance. My point is, as long as someone's body art isn't offensive or so distracting nobody can get any work done (like Lizard Man working at FedEx), then employers should not have the right to withhold a job offer, solely, (key word here people) on that basis alone.
What do you all think about permanent body art in the workplace? Do you agree/disagree with my arguments? What are some of the experiences you've had with tattoos/piercing at work or on the job hunt?
Hi Catie! As a fellow-tattooed person I feel like this is a conversation I can certainly be a part of. It's a changing world, and it's rather frustrating trying to navigate between the modern "we don't mind your tattoos" employers and the "OH NO ::clutching their pearls::" types of employers. Like you, I opted to get all my tattoos and piercings in subtle, easily covered places. So it hasn't harmed me personally and I'll be honest that a lot of my coworkers probably don't even know I have them.
The only thing I'd like to point out with your conversation is that though I do agree that we should not be judged by our body modifications, I don't think the word "discrimination" is appropriate here. I may be wrong, but I believe discrimination happens when someone is denied a job based on something they have no control over (like their skin color or age) -- choosing a tattoo is a very conscious decision, and I believe this has a lot to do with why tattoo artists will rarely tattoo necks, faces, or hands on people for their first tattoo. Being heavily tattooed IS life-changing, for better or for worse.
Personally I don't think I would ever want to work in an environment where I could never ever show a tattoo. That sounds stuffy and dreadful. I think the only thing tattooed people have going for them in the job market these days is the kinds of places where they can't show their art is the kind of place they wouldn't want to work anyway. You never know, though, which again is why I got mine where I did.
I'm not sure that makes any sense, I'm curious to know if anyone else with tattoos would like to weigh in!
Hi Catie, I have a tattoo on my left wrist, which I can and have to cover due to my place of employment. I was not aware of this rule when I was hired. My problem with this is I am a Certified Nursing Assistant. I wear a sleeve over my tat. While I can wash my hands on a regular basis, I cannot wash the fabric sleeve, thus it is a source of contamination. I keep extra sleeves in my bag for when they get visibly soiled, but I still feel it is very unsanitary for a health care center. I am a great CNA, and I love the facility, but this is very disturbing to me. Most of the residents who ask about the sleeve like the tattoo, so I don't think any of them are offended by it. Its the stuffed shirts who have never held a hand or dried a tear, let alone the other, less glamorous parts of my job, that make the rules I have to live by. I wish I had known before I accepted the position and quit my previous employer. I might not have taken the job.