Tattoos in business: OK or taboo?-Generational divide can split acceptance of body art
“Given the labor shortage, it’s important to look towards diversity,” said Devon Reese, attorney at CDHK. “But sometimes looking beyond appearances can be hard.”
Not all companies share his philosophy and sometimes management is finding itself stuck in the middle by trying to adopt more flexible dress codes while protecting its professional image.
While a Gen-Xer in the office might not look twice at exposed ink or metal, a Baby Boomer might find it offensive to display body art at work.
“In the summer, I will have cops ask me if I’m in a gang,” he said. “Older women will pull their children away.”
As a result, some employers won’t hire someone with body art even if they are hidden.
Any of you out there have stories like this?
I have 5 tattoos 1 on each forearm, 1 on my upper arm, 1 on my chest and 1 on my finger. I am in Sales and it is outside sales so in the summer, especially down south, it is extremely hot. I cover them up and therefore sweat my balls off; knocking on somebody’s door with my tattoos showing is probably not going to get me invited in to their home. It’s never actually stopped me from getting a job, but I never let anyone see them until after I have been hired, unless they previously now me of-course.
I am originally from England and so my accent sometimes detracts from the body art.
I have a few tattoos, and I plan on getting a few more — in my industry, it’s showing love to other forms of artwork, and we appreciate that. However, my clientele and many of the previous companies I’ve worked for did not hold that sentiment, that’s why they’ve been shoulders and back tatoos — easily covered by long sleeve dress shirts, which I won’t NOT wear, so I’m in the clear. It’s always that and/or a suit coat, or it’s not professional to me.
However, as a striking contrast, I’ve been more impressed by designers with tattoos than without on many occassions — they have a flare and a swagger that promotes an inventiveness in design… but this is a generalization, and only in my experience — and, of course, from designers who’ve designed their own tattoos. Most are comfortable with their bodies, and themselves in many ways, or they wouldn’t be so expressive. Not to say, before I get bashed, I don’t have talent without (my two best don’t have tattoos); but the point is now when I see tattoos, I guess my opinion regarding hiring is completely the opposite of the middle management world — I see unique go getters with ambition standing straight up.
I’ve got a tat on each ankle so it is easily hidden when I am dressed professionally. Still, it is fun being a minister and seeing people’s reactions when they find out ( I wear Birkenstocks a lot so it usually is only a matter of time). It definitely is a generational thing. I can tell you quite a few ministers my age (mid-30s) who have tats and a few with other pieces of body art.
I think most people are really just out of touch – I have a ring in the top of my ear, and used to catch hell for it. While working for a temp agency they always wanted me to take it out – I NEVER DID, and I lost jobs for it. In SF of all place you would think there would be more lattatude.
In the business world they do not want “free thinker” and absolutly do not want anyone creative.
I’m a baby boomer and I have a tatoo…but then again, I basically judge people by their actions, not their looks. I know, that’s an insane way of doing things.
I want to have a glass eye implanted in my backside, so that mooning people will be a much more horrific experience.
In the business world they do not want “free thinker” and absolutely do not want anyone creative.
Comment by Jeremy Robbins — 3/5/2006 @ 12:25 pm
True dat.
I have a several friends with lots of ink, and they are scary to look at and some of the best people I’ve ever met.
Including John D and his 16-pin DIP chip tat. But he’s too shy to tell you where.
All my kids have tattoos, though most have just one or two. Youngest daughter has a lot of them, and it limits who will hire her (she’s a waitress and bartender while she works on getting a degree in fine arts). I’m a boomer and an Army vet, and I really don’t understand the attraction of having tattoo(s).
Dvorak’s right by the way; billboards about tattoo removal are now right up there next to ones for vasectomy reversal.
People think others give a crap about who they are. When I go in someplace to buy a product or service, I want the exact same product or service delivered to be exactly the same way, every time, period.
I’ve talked to a couple of younger folks who were sorely disappointed that no one cared who they were in the world of business. That’s the way it should be. Body art is for the personal world, not the business. world. I have no problem with businesses telling you to cover it up while on the job. You’re representing the company, not yourself.
Nothing goes on my body that I can’t wash off when I get bored with it.
I have a couple tattoos, and while I can understand an employer not wanting to hire people with tats that show, to discriminate against people with tattoos that are easily hidden is just plain dumb.
>>In the business world they do not want “free thinker” and
>> absolutely do not want anyone creative.
They should be hiring tat-wearers by the hundreds, then.
Years ago, a tattoo was a sign that you were a free-thinker, or a sailor or a Harley-riding gang member. Now it means that you’re just another Valley Girl who went out with her girlfriends and got a tat. Same thing happened with piercings and earrings on guys, but those you can take out. With a tat, you’re marked forever (depending on your age) as just another sheep, following the latest craze.
We live in a conservative “red” part of the country – Northeast TN. Most business owners are Christian republicans. One of our employees’ entire back is tatooed and she has two tasteful face piercings and numerous ear piercings. Most of our clients know about her tatoos. I think because we are “creative types” that there has never been a problem. Strangely, the only issue we’ve ever had was that she wore a v-neck shirt that offended this insane hyperconservative female employee at a meeting. The piercings, the tatoo, no problem. But even SUGGESTING she had breasts was a big no-no.
i’ve heard that tattoo removal is even more painful than the tattoo procedure itself-*~