Lovelyish

If they aren’t gang related or offensive (gore or nudity), I don’t think it should matter if a tattoo is visible in the work place. I know there are still a lot of people that disagree with this though.

I work in a corporate office where tattoos must be covered and piercings on the face must be taken out. 

I haven’t ever worked somewhere that has allowed tattos and piercings to show except years ago when I worked retail.

It’s the fashion industry. Your workplace is an anomaly. In law firms showing ink is a bad idea. It is recommended and encouraged to get ink lasered away.

Societal norms say they’re unacceptable but more and more places are allowing it. My sister’s psychologist has a large flower one on her arm and a colored hair streak. I’m not into body art/funky hair coloring myself, but if someone wants to do that to their own body, it’s acceptable to me as long as it’s not hateful or violent or something of that nature. My sister was actually pleased to see that her psychologist was into that stuff because that’s her personality.

It also depends on the profession and workplace rules/ethics.

I recently got a tattoo about 2 weeks ago and I asked my boss if our company had a policy about them. She basically said we had no policy and that she didn’t care, and then that next Monday I actually showed it off to her and she loved it. 

She also told me that I could have a nose piercing, which I am quite inclined to get now.  

In a professional setting, IMO, they should be covered unless it is a part of the job (tattoo parlor).  Now, what defines a professional setting… hmmm…. well, if you wear a specific uniform I think body art should be covered.  But if you don’t wear a uniform or don’t have a business attire type dress code, then I don’t think it matters. 

To me, it’s not about seeing body art (I have three tattoos myself) it is about maintaining a professional atmosphere and/or uniformity.  But really, at the end of the day I wouldn’t care.  lol 

It depends on the work environment. It would always be a good idea to cover them up unless specified otherwise by a higher up that it’s okay to show. 

I work two jobs.  One as a State Worker, and no one has any problems with tattoos.  You can see people covered, ones with little ones, ones with sleeves, ones with nothing.  I also work as a dance teacher, and there I have to cover them up.  Meh…

Depends upon the industry, in the accounting industry it is frowned upon and considered unprofessional.

It depends on where you work. I’m fairly tattooed (quarter-sleeve tattoo, large forearm tattoo, back tattoo, etc.), and I went to a couple interviews recently…Teavana’s tattoo policy is “with good taste” so as long as they’re not offensive, it’s cool. Red Robin, Starbucks, and Bath & Body Works’ policy is “no visible tattoos.” It still surprises me that so many workplaces are so close-minded about tattoos (especially here in Southern Cali where every other person has at least one); I used to work at Red Robin and sometimes my forearm tattoo would show and my tables always complimented me and I got better tips haha…hopefully soon tattoos will be more accepted in the workplace :-/

i think in a professional setting, it might be seen as inappropriate & not professional. but i think in fashion, its very creative and break the boundaries! 

the difference between you and the average person is that you work in the dashion industry where tattoos and piercings are popular now. even in clothing design, some  are inspired by tattoos. most people do not work where tattoos or piercings are acceptable. they sure are not acceptable at my job, in a major resort in las vegas, even though i work in retail. so no, i dont think so. but do i think they should, yes. 

Definitely depends on where you work. I have a friend who is absolutely covered in tats and has no problem wearing his barely-there shirts and shorts to work. Then again, he’s a tattoo artist. My husband, who has small, easily covered tattoos, has to cover them at work. He works in corporate finance. It seems the more creative/artistic the environment, the more acceptable they are.

Definitely not a widespread thing now.  Fashion, yeah.

I’m very visibly tattooed – I have most of my left arm tattooed, as well as the tops of both of my feet, and I wear 1″ tunnels in my earlobes. I am an insurance underwriter in a very professional / conservative office. Granted, when I started there 5 years ago I only had tattoos that my clothes hid, and my earlobes were a measly 00g, but as I kept getting more tattooed, I also kept getting promoted. I think as long as you’ve got a good reputation, what you look like doesn’t matter. I still come into the office every day looking as done up and professional as the next guy, I just have different coloured skin. And yes, I wear flats with no socks and short sleeves in the office, and at meetings. And yes, I perpetually get compared to Kat Von D. Ugh. 

I work for ASDA, which is the UK branch of Walmart – all tattoos must be covered up, and facial piercings taken out. 

It depends on the job industry.

But there’s always a chance that tattoos can hurt you professionally. Period.
It matters more if you deal with clients, however. I’m quite heavily tattooed myself and as a customer I still don’t want to deal with someone who thinks their tattoos/stretched ears/piercings are more important than presenting a professional image.

Expressing yourself < looking professional

in my job you can show tattoos but only in certain spots like the arm. they don’t allow piercings or excessive jewelry

Mine are covered anyway unless I’m wearing a tank top, and I pretty much assume work places that are cool with tank tops are also cool with tattoos. No problems so far.

I know a girl who had to wear sweatbands to cover her wrist tattoos…and all she did at her job was help move furniture. As far as I’ve seen, pretty much the only places that are okay with tattoos and facial piercings are coffee shops, music/book/video game stores, pizza places, and some clothes retail joints.

I’ve worked in two law firms and a psych office with visible facial piercings and tattoos. No comment was ever made at any of those places. 

I think corporate offices are MUCH more likely to say no to body art though. 

I like to believe that tattoos will become more acceptable in the work industry as time goes on, especially since more and more people are getting tattoos.

I have two tattoos, and I didn’t like that I felt the need to choose places that are easily hidden just in case. 

my workplace requires a professional clean cut image, because a professional image is part of the business. I have no problem with it because I’m already that way. no inconvenience to me nor my employer. it depends on where you work.

I think it depends on the job.  Personally I do not have any tattoos or body piercings other than my earlobes, but if I did, I would choose spots that would likely be concealed on ANY job, as I feel tattoos are highly personal and should not be displayed for people to scrutinize.  I am not interested in obtaining more piercings.

It definitely depends on where you work but I’m beginning to notice that some places are relaxing their policies.  I currently work at a drug rehab facility and they don’t care about tattoos or piercings.  During my interview my boss actually spent most of the time talking about her tattoos once she saw I had a quarter sleeve.  I could have full sleeves on both arms and they wouldn’t care.

When I worked at a different hospital, the official policy was that tattoos could be visible so long as they weren’t vulgar, offensive, or gang related.

I’m in nursing school right now and the nursing programs policy is stricter than any of the hospitals I’ve worked at.  We are allowed to show any tattoos we already have, but we can’t get any new ones that are visible when we are in our uniforms.  If I decided to turn my quarter sleeve into a half sleeve, I would get kicked out of the program.

Like everyone else said, it changes depending on where you work, but the norm is to not have tattoos showing. I’ve been a waitress or retail assistant for years, and none of the places I’ve worked have allowed it. When I’ve worked in design offices they weren’t allowed either.

I don’t agree with the people who think tattoos should be allowed in a workplace either – it’s exactly the same as saying people should be allowed to wear what ever/how ever much jewellery they want.

Depends on the industry. The fashion industry might be more open to it, but I feel like that definitely depends on the company and its image. Corporate world? Absolutely not okay, especially when dealing with a client. They must be covered up.

My advice is when you apply for a job, always look at the general image of the company. In an interview, always cover up your tattoos unless you are absolutely positive it is welcomed. If you get the job and you aren’t sure, ask whoever is training you or your manager if you need to keep them covered or not.

I think it depends. I’ve played with hair color and I’ve never had any employer complain. I also have only one tattoo that is actually fairly covered unless I’m wearing a tank top. I’ve been working with children since 2004. If any children have seen it, I’ve always said I drew it on and no one’s said anything.

I’m planning to get another tattoo on my wrist soon. I originally wanted it on my left one because I’m left handed (and I want a 4 leaf clover). But the more I think about it, I should put it on my right so I can cover it up in case I do need to cover it up. I’ve work with people (who also worked with children) who had tattoos that weren’t easily hidden and I never even heard anyone complain about that either. Right now, I work at a job where one of the policies is that I have to wear pants that have a zipper and a button. Yes, it actually had to be stated for everyone to know. And right now, it’s also has been posted in a place that is a high employee visited for a couple of weeks now.

Honestly, I think that if you work in the fashion industry, tattoos and piercings are much more acceptable than in most other fields. It depends more on your actual employer and less on your field. If you’ve got questions about it, it’s probably best to ask your boss.

NOOOO THEY ARE HORRIBLEEEEEEE :(:( COVER THEM UP! Unless you work at a tattoo parlor or a sketch bar or somewhere where it’s fine. In general, COVER THEM UP!

I have a medium sized tattoo on my wrist, which I always cover up in job interviews then once I’m in, I show it =p No one has said anything yet. I work in a marketing/creative industry where there is no dress code. 

they should never be not okay.

@shinoseishi@xanga - They don’t allow you to wear long sleeve shirts under your scrubs?

@SHEERROSE@xanga - They usually do, but there are certain clinical rotations (such as OR and NICU) where we aren’t allowed to wear long sleeves.  Also, it’s pretty unbearable for me to wear long sleeves March-October in my part of Texas.

@shinoseishi@xanga - Ah I live in PA so it’s not so bad thanks for the info I’m planning on going to college for nursing.

I think “artsy” jobs allow it because tattoos are “artistic expression” or something. In a professional office setting, it looks trashy. Don’t get me wrong, I think some tattoos are really cool, and I would get one on my wrist or forearm if it was acceptable, but I’m not going to risk my financial security so that I can get one. My brother works at Moe’s and the GM wouldn’t promote him to manager because he has tattoos on his arms. I think it’s kind of whack that he can’t get promoted, but a lot of tattoos look dirty, so in a restaurant, that’s not appetizing to customers.

Also, Kat Von D has them on her face. There is no way she would get a job in anything but a creative/artsy profession. Tattoos are distracting; she is a prime example.

To say someone can’t work somewhere because they have tattoos is discrim. and to say that we don’t and then make a rule like this is pathetic. Suck it up. There tattoo’s, what’s the big deal, honestly.

Haha, I recently posted a blog about tattoo’s…
I absolutely adore them if they’re tasteful.
I think they should definitely be more allowed and acceptable, of course, as long as they’re not offensive.
I actually plan on getting my first after basic training. (:

In the fashion industry, I think it’s a little different. It’s more accepted because it’s more of a statement. In a professional setting, like a doctors’ office etc… I don’t think it’s as accepted, and I don’t think it should be. I personally think tattoos are rather trashy, but that’s just my opinion.

 I think they should be fine in the work place, as long as the placement of your tattoos were thought about. (Fingers, hands, wrists) And as they don’t have any cruses,  or something that could upset a person they should be fine. If its a cute butterfly on your wrist I don’t really see the big deal… You paid for it.. You should be able to show it off, and you’ve thought about the placement and how big it show be.  Its just like people pay to get there hair dyed a normal color, (brown, blonde, black)  or to put make up on. that all seems normal. its not really frown on. Too me, tattoos are like that. There normal.

I know in school I had teachers with tattoos, most of there tattoos were on there legs, would see them in the spring/when it got warm out…  and other places its acceptable. I assume you have to ask your boss/place you want to get hired at if they have a dress code with tattoos. I know most places that aren’t okay yet with that stuff, because it doesn’t look professional and it makes that place look not as great. like if you were a lawyer people would be scared you might not ‘give a fuck’ but… I think that’ll change through. Its discrimination. & as I said you pay for your tattoos to get done, some people even design/have meanings to them… A lot of people do. 
and with how many teens/young adults I know that are getting tattoos, and more done to there body, (body piercings, those ear stretches, the things that make you look like you have a snake tongue.. ect..) people are going to have to start living with things as minor as tattoos, because people seem to be doing a lot more to there body. and some of those things you can’t just “cover up” or “remove” .  ;)

someone please tell me what part of the body is meant by “the workplace”

It depends on the job and the tattoos. I have 4 tattoos, but they are all easily hidden and most people never know that I have more than 1 or 2 (if they even know I have any). In my line of work, no one gives a damn what you look like – including tattoos and piercings. It would never stop you from getting a job. But I could see it affecting a lot of jobs. So it really depends on the line of work and the tattoos (like sleeves can be a bit much for nearly ANY job). 

What a shitty photoshop job

This is an interesting observation, in Europe no one thinks anything of tattoos/piercings in the workplace… and I have started no notice it here myself.

@iamdriftwood@xanga - I’m adding that to my list of 831,355 reasons I want to move to Europe immediately

It totally depends on the job, and level of professionalism is not indicated by the allowance or forbidding of body art/piercings.  I worked in pizza delivery for 2 years and there I had to cover up all my tattoos and my eyebrow piercing and keep my hair “normal” colors. even though I washed dishes, worked with high-schoolers, and mostly did dirty work.  Now I work in an office setting and have a job with a lot more professional responsibility, and I have a lip piercing and 3 visible tattoos and have had every hair color except green over the past 3 years.  But I work in the music industry and deal with customers via phone, so they can’t see that I look like a hooligan   Plus our corporate culture here is very accepting and creative, which is why I’m still at this job and why it doesn’t suck ass like most of my past jobs have.

Since I have a tattoo on my forearm that can only be covered by long sleeves, I realize I”ve marked myself for life and that it counts me out of a lot of workplaces automatically.  But that’s okay because I don’t want to work somewhere that doesn’t allow people to express themselves.  It is becoming more accepted and I think that trend may continue since tattoos and piercings are more popular than they used to be.

@TallandThinIsBetter@xanga - Why?  That defeats the entire purpose of getting them.  And if your employer allows it, there’s absolutely no reason why you need to cover them up.

@needmoreink@xanga - I just think they’re terrible lol. But yeah, depending on the job then it might not matter.

The entertainment/ art community is completely different from the corporate world. It depends on the lifestyle you choose to pursue.

There are a lot of variables. I will openly say that I believe the appropriateness of a tattoo or piercing completely depends on the industry the person is working in. I also think that it depends on what area of the country and whether it is a rural or urban setting. Like others have stated, I also think it depends largely on what the tattoo is of and where it is.

When I see someone with tattoos working somewhere, it make me feel more comfortable as a customer/client/whatever, because then I don’t immediately get the sense that they are uptight or that they will judge me in whatever way.

strange