All I can say is wow! Was this ever a popular topic. More than 560 readers wanted to share their view on visible tattoos in the workplace, quickly pushing the post into the top HR Bartender favorites.
Couple weeks ago, I mentioned the conversation that occurred after sharing Kris Dunn’s post on “The New Rules of Tattoos in the Workplace” and asked you what you thought about ink. Do companies still have tattoo-phobia or are we more focused on skills and abilities? Here’s what you said (in our completely unscientific one-question poll):
Honestly, the non-committal answer didn’t surprise me.
Look at the second most popular reply. “I have a visible tattoo.” I believe at one point in time, that number wouldn’t have been very high. According to Pew Research, the percentage of adults who have at least one tattoo is between 36 – 40%. A pretty significant number.
A clear majority in this poll have no issues with tattoos. Whether they personally have one or not.
Fashion and style change over time. What’s considered to be acceptable in the physical looks department changes. And with that our opinions about fashion, style, body art, etc. change along with it.
I hate the idea of ending this post with a “get with the times” feeling. So let me say this – companies are missing out on a lot of really talented people if they’re including visible tattoos as part of their job screening criteria. Nuff said.
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Scott Ziegler says
A resounding “amen” as I struggle to keep all my tattoos covered every work day.
Mel says
I got a little choked up at the end. I’m a heavily tattooed Human Resources and Training professional who constantly is struggling to walk the line based on my audience. While I want to remain professional in the eyes of my employer (which is a muddy definition at best) and clients, I want to be true to myself as well. BUT – I wholeheartedly agree that there’s a very large pool of talent being looked over simply because of the “color” of their skin. I’ve been underestimated a couple of times in my career and was told by a woman I now consider my mentor that she herself had apprehensions about me as an employee because of my appearance. Luckily, I gave her a dose of “this is what happens when you underestimate others”. 🙂 Thank you for this great post and I hope many an HR and management team heeds your advice.
Sharlyn Lauby says
Thanks for the comments! I hope the popularity of this post opens the door for more conversations about judging and underestimating people based upon their looks.
Joe Ryan says
Hiring decisions should be based on skills, experience, and the desire to grow and be flexible, etc. I would hire a tattooed candidate, without hesitation, as long as they had the required qualifications. A workforce rich in multiple forms of diversity is more effective than a homogenous one.
Too often, hiring decisions are based on assumptions, notions, inexplicable connections, inferences, and the need to play it safe with a perceived “safe ” hire that would conform to established norms and values.
Tanya says
For me it would all depend on what it was. If it was an offensive one I din’t think I could hire them. I wouldn’t want my costomers to see it.
balens says
I’ve got a problem understanding this topic ….does the car one drives also have an impact , the way someone dresses , the color of hair …if his tooth are nice or ugly ….short or small …
I do have to say that 20 years ago I probably would have reacted different , but today a tattoo is a part of decoration , personality ….just like a woman puts up make-up or colors her hair ….a ring we put on our finger …
I know a lot of well-educated and high ranked managers with tattoos , probably smarter and more mature then most of the people who reacted negative ( in this pol ) .
I can only agree that is not appropriate in case of offending or discriminating types of tattoos …but if not , please be realistic and see the person who wears the tattoo , the cloths , ring etc ….
Karen E. Lund says
I would agree with the middle-of-the-road majority, except size doesn’t matter. Content does.
I recently saw a woman with the word “evil” tattooed on her shoulder. Well, what does that say about her possible ethics and behavior? (Never mind that I shouldn’t see a shoulder at a job interview…) And no, she didn’t have “good” written on the other side.
But I’ve worked with and admired people who had non-offensive tattooes. I even advocated for hiring a guy with a tongue piercing, which I must admit surprised even me. But we hired him snd he was terrific!
Joe Carbone says
Many years ago an employee told me that it shouldn’t matter how he dressed or kept himself. It was how he performed that mattered. I told him he was right, but that wouldn’t change someone’s impression about hiring him. Poll results show that tattoos do matter in hiring. The question was not whether tattoos are right or wrong. Yes, companies are missing out and so are some people trying to get jobs with visible tattoos. In each case they are limiting their options. How they expand their options is up to them.
Julie says
I am a fence sitter. I personally have tatts and would love more although hesitate due to a professional image being considered as a person who will do a better job (no matter how ridiculous that seems).
Again I would be a fence sitter employing someone. Tatts that can be hidden is more preference than neck tatts (I think that one is my limit). Least if your in a shirt and tie you will suit a professional atmosphere
Tom says
It depends, mostly on if the role is customer facing or not and how your customers feel about ink. In some places (a tattoo parlor for example) it might seem odd if you DIDN’T have a tattoo. In other places, (Disney for example) employees are required to “discretely cover” any tattoos. For back office functions or those with no customer contact, I can’t see how or why it would matter.
Sharlyn Lauby says
Thanks for the great comments and discussion!
I think we all agree that offensive tattoos are deal-breakers. The question becomes who defines offensive?
Hires should be made based upon skills and abilities. But visible tattoos say something about us. No different than if I walked in with a t-shirt saying the same thing.
Erica says
I think a step further would be to see the difference between departments
I have found that it’s usually more acceptable in creative jobs like advertising, marketing, graphic design, etc
Where not so much in fnance or sales
Dan Ryan says
I would personally not have any ink, but I am warming to the sight of ink.
The challenge is that the more mature workforce seems to have more of an issue with this.
I suspect that tattoos will become more commonplace and accepted as time goes by. I try not to judge a book by its cover, but you have to admit that we have all purchased a book because we were drawn in or turned off by the sleeve on the outside.
This is just human nature.
London Tattoo Artist says
This poll reflects what my clients tell me. Just a few years ago people were still worried if their boss finds out or if they may have trouble getting jobs in the future. Now things seem much more relaxed and people are telling me that their bosses and supervisors have tattoos too and it’s not a problem. I don’t know if this is only the case here in London though, but a responsible tattoo artist would say no to tattoo that cannot be covered up anyway.
Susan says
This would not be possible in my very conservative industry. We’re still wearing suits when other industries have trended toward jeans and sneakers. We’re still required to be absolutely professional in every sense of the word: from head to toe. I appreciate that people enjoy doing this stuff to their own bodies, but it does not mean that they won’t be discriminated against when it comes to hiring–and it will be legal. They could have the best brain in the world, but my international business clients would be horrified by someone who has face tattoos or a split tongue, etc. After all, Hooters wouldn’t hire fat old me, and I wouldn’t (as the HR manager) hire a man who isn’t willing to remove his piercings, cover his tattoos, or don a suit. Not trying to be inflammatory, but logical.
Balens says
You’ve a complete wrong logic Susan ….poor you..wake up and become someone of this world … See people and what they stand for…I’m really sory for you…and even more sory that you work in HR…
Susan says
Dear Balens: It’s not my policy, but I don’t have a problem following it. We cater to a high-end clientele and while you may not like it and you may think we’re out of touch, that is what our customers want. If there is a time when our clientele prefer a more relaxed environment with a more casual staff, then we’ll probably move toward that. For now, if you want that diversity, there are plenty of other hotels to lay your head, with and without that level of service. For what it’s worth, this policy is practiced at all of properties in 50 countries.
Balens says
Dear Susan , then why did you do this poll in the first place….to provocate….but ok , I’m well educated, have high standards and travel a lot all over the world all the time …perhaps I’ve been one of your guests …but believe me , I will not have a bad night if someone of the staff would have a tatoo …..still feel sory for you …if one respects himslef , he( or she ) never sells himself for something he or she does not stand for . I would never take or do a job that is against my own believes or that is discriminating people based on their color, relgion , cloths ….or what ever .
Susan says
Why did I take the poll in the first place? Because I was under the impression that a variety of opinions and experiences were welcomed here. You obviously would not feel comfortable in this work environment, and based solely on your incredibly presumptuous and poorly spelled posts, I would likely pass you over for a job (not as a guest, but for a job) at one of our American properties. Forgive my candor, but there are places where visible ink is simply not yet acceptable. Again, we’re in business to cater to our customers, not our employees. The beauty of our free society is that you’re able to explore all types of possibilities–inked/pierced/surgically enhanced or not. Best of luck to you, wherever your career takes you.
Sharlyn Lauby says
First, let me say that comments are welcome here. I think it’s this kind of discussion that helps us learn and understand different points of view.
My two-cents (for what’s it’s worth) – businesses do have to think about the reactions of their customers. If a company believes customers will take an unfavorable view of the business for allowing visible tattoos, then the company shouldn’t allow visible tattoos. The goal of the business is to make money and they do that by listening to their customers.
That being said, my observation is that times are changing. And what was considered unacceptable years ago could be well-received today. Businesses have to constantly monitor the customer POV to make sure their business evolves with their customer. Otherwise, they could wake up one morning and find themselves out of touch.
It’s possible a business that doesn’t allow tattoos today could find themselves embracing them in the not too distant future.
Dmitri Fukiu says
Fuck no. People with tattoos are shit.