Tuesday, 20 September 2011
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Are Tattoos in the Workplace Okay Now?
As an inked girl myself, I have four tiny tattoos in noticeable places. Prior to my pursuits in the fashion industry, I was taught to always hide tattoos in professional settings like an interview or the workplace. This rule has changed.
Based on some of my professional encounters in the fashion industry, I have realized that many workers have multiple piercings and tattoos. Is this the new age of professionalism or are these permanent accessories only allowed in creative jobs like fashion? I am very confused, and questioning if this could possibly help or harm businesses.
What do you think of exposing body art in the workplace?
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- From: Paige13
- Name: Paige13
- Location: New York City, New York, United States
- About Me: I am a current student at the Fashion Institute of Technology majoring in Fashion Merchandising. I recently graduated from Michigan State with a degree in journalism and a passion for fashion, which explains my recent move to the city. I enjoy going out to eat with friends, shopping, traveling and experiencing life to the fullest. I hope to become an editor some day. I live with Tucker, my Yorkie, and we both hope you check in with my new blog posts every day!
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Comments (49)
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.
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.
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.
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.