In an ever-evolving job market, whether tattoos affect employment opportunities has become a critical consideration for job seekers and employers. Many employers allow visible tattoos in the workplace, and inked workers are no longer limited to blue-collar jobs.
On the other hand, employers can establish dress codes and grooming policies prohibiting visible ink. So this article explores the delicate balance between personal expression and professional presentation, shedding light on the real-world experiences of the question – do tattoos affect employment?
As societal norms shift, it’s imperative to examine how tattoos influence career prospects, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their place in today’s employment landscape.
Job Fair Source: https://hotcore.info/babki/Job-Fair-People.htm
Are Tattoos In The Workplace Acceptable?
Generally, tattoos are acceptable in the workplace. Tattoos used to be prevalent among physical laborers, but these days, it’s not uncommon to see a doctor or a lawyer sporting some ink. The perception of tattoos is changing over time, but they still come with a certain degree of risk.
As a result, there are specific states and conditions in which tattoos might be unacceptable in workplaces. For example, you can have issues when:
- The tattoo you carry is offensive or unprofessional. Offensive tattoos that promote hate or provoke any particular group of people are considered inappropriate. And they may limit your career choices.
- Working with different groups of people. Even though company policy allows tattoos, some customers, clients, or coworkers can carry prejudice against people with body art. Although you are doing everything correctly according to company culture, your tattoo can create friction in the workplace.
- The size and placement of the tattoo can change the perception of tattooed employees. A small symbol on your ankle usually will bring up little attention, but placing it on the neck or face can drastically reduce your chances of getting a job.
So, even though tattoos are more acceptable today, there are still several career factors you should consider before getting tattoos.
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Career Factors To Consider Before Getting A Tattoo
Since tattoos can affect your career in various ways, it’s essential to consider how they might impact your future before getting a tattoo. Tattoos are permanent, and a decision to get one should not be made on a whim.
If you decide to get a tattoo, consider the size, complexity, and placement. As noted, visible and large tattoos on the neck or face can be criticized by non-tattooed employees, clients, and customers. They can be a limitation in the interview process, and you can face discrimination by coworkers or clients.
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Think about career development. Your current job assignment might not come with any tattoo restrictions, but if you want to advance in the company structure, you might encounter problems. You probably won’t have issues with unique body art as an intern. But down the line, you might have issues transitioning into a serious managerial position with a strict corporate culture.
Ask yourself if you are going to stay in the same industry forever. Somebody working as a graphic designer to support their medical studies might enjoy the freedom that comes with the job. Applying for a job in the medical field, on the other hand, can put you under more scrutiny.
You should avoid clearly displaying anything that can be deemed offensive. You can be proud of your religion, musical, or any other preference, but you shouldn’t express that at other’s expense. Customers and colleagues should feel comfortable around you.
Tattoo Policy In The Workplace
Employers have the right to establish rules when it comes to their employees’ personal appearance. And this is usually carried out by big and reputable companies. They aim for uniformity, and your ink might stick out like a sore thumb. However, some policies can allow a specific amount or smaller tattoos. Therefore, before talking to hiring managers, you should cover the crucial aspects of the company’s tattoo policy.
There are four crucial aspects that should be covered in a tattoo policy:
- Who can have tattoos? It is important to specify which position comes with what amount of lenience regarding body art. A construction worker might be allowed to have visible tattoos, but a construction manager might not be.
- Visible tattoos. A company may ban tattoos on the face or neck but might not ban visible tattoos completely. Some organizations and schools will require hiding visible tattoos as well as piercings in places other than the ears. In comparison, some will prohibit all tattoos, even though they are not visible.
- Offensive tattoos. Tattoo policies usually forbid images that promote hate speech, violence, vulgarity, and illegal activities. These include anything from mocking a specific religion or race to political figures, sexual imagery, and drug use.
- Multiple tattoos. There should be a set limit to the amount of ink allowed. People can start with one tattoo and end up with a full sleeve. That’s why even the most strict organizations, such as the army, allow tattoos, but they can take up to 25% of the body or arms.
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Lack Of Tattoo Policy On Visible Ink
Since there are no strict laws that permit tattoos in the workplace, there are companies that need a tattoo policy. Companies frequently overlook this area for several reasons:
- Some companies might not require any regulations since tattoos don’t play an important role in landing a job. Construction workers often have visible tattoos, and they get hired based on the quality of their work and not looks.
- A small company or a family-owned business with no employee turnaround can operate without a tattoo policy based on their mutual understanding.
- A company that is facing an influx of tattooed workers for the first time has not had to think about tattoo regulations in the past.
If there is no strict or written policy on body ink, it doesn’t mean that you won’t encounter negative stereotypes or negative stigma. Today’s workplace is a highly complex environment. There are typically companies that are strict when it comes to tattooed employees, but there are also tattoo-friendly environments.
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Companies And Organizations With Strict Tattoo Policy
Even though tattoo acceptance has become more widespread and societal attitudes have shifted, there are organizations, business departments, and companies that employ strict tattoo policies. The truth is there are very few branches that will follow a strict no-tattoo policy. However, most reputable organizations will allow only smaller tattoos during work. Here are some careers that use tattoo policy:
The Military
In the past, military personnel had to follow strict rules and regulations regarding tattoos. The no-tattoo policy, which included no tattoos on the neck, face, hands, or wrists and no more than four tattoos on arms and below knees, was updated in 2021. Today, the Navy even allows a single neck tattoo no larger than 1 inch, but most branches will prohibit it. The forbidden areas remain head and hands, except for a single ring tattoo. The rest of the body can have tattoos, but they shouldn’t cover more than 25% of the entire body.
The Airline Companies
The tattoo policy will mostly depend on the specific airline, but in most cases, flight attendants must hide all their visible tattoos. That’s why you see most of them wearing long sleeves. Some airlines don’t allow tattoos on legs or arms if they are visible while wearing a skirt or short sleeves. Additionally, specific airlines are in the process of changing their tattoo policies, so they might allow for smaller visible tattoos.
Teachers
Teachers are considered role models to their students, so in most cases, educational institutions will not allow any visible tattoos. However, the policy might change depending on the age of the students, so it is not uncommon to see an associate professor with a small visible tattoo, which can help him bond with his students.
Corporate Professionals
Most client-facing or executive roles will have strict dress codes and appearance guidelines, which typically include covering visible tattoos or avoiding tattoo placements that are difficult to conceal. The appearance with no tattoos leaves an image of professionalism, competence, and reliability, which is the most important for future client and business department relationships.
Banking, Finance, And Legal Professionals
Attorneys, judges, and paralegals, as well as banking and finance professionals, are working in a modern workplace that requires a high level of trust and professionalism. Visible tattoos and piercings can negatively impact the maintenance of strong business relationships and ensure the smooth operation of these professions.
Government Agencies
Certain government agencies or departments, particularly those involving public-facing roles or sensitive positions, had policies against visible tattoos. This includes roles in diplomatic services, law enforcement, etc. Most of these agencies serve diverse populations, so policies seek to minimize potential biases and negative perceptions that visible tattoos might evoke in certain individuals.
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Tattoo-friendly Companies That Will Allow Visible Tattoos
Meanwhile, due to shifting policies and higher self-expression freedom among people, we’re also seeing companies that are more accepting of tattooed employees. Hiring tattooed employees can also have its benefits (we’ll talk more about it later). So here are some of the most famous tattoo-friendly companies:
Tech Companies
Many technology firms have more relaxed dress codes, including policies regarding tattoos. Since employees don’t have too much client interaction, employers like Google, Apple, Microsoft, and smaller startups in the tech industry are looking to hire experts, regardless of their appearance or tattoos.
Creative Industries
Advertising agencies, design firms, media companies, and other creative industries often embrace individuality and self-expression. Tattoos are the perfect example of self-expression, so we are often seeing artists and designers with tattoos.
Source: https://smallbusiness.co.uk/acceptable-discrimination-tattoos-2538919/
Retail Chains
Some retail companies, especially those catering to younger demographics, have relaxed their policies on visible tattoos. IKEA, Best Buy, Good Trader Joe’s, and Home Depot are some examples of welcoming tattooed people or people with dyed hair and more.
Entertainment Industry
This includes music labels, film production companies, and various entertainment-related businesses that commonly accept and even celebrate diverse forms of self-expression, including tattoos. Companies such as Ticketmaster or even Disney are very tattoo-friendly oriented, and similar to artists, a tattoo in a job interview won’t be a limitation.
Hospitality And Food Service
Certain restaurants, cafes, and hotels have adopted more lenient tattoo policies for their staff, recognizing that tattoos are often part of modern culture and not a hindrance to customer service. While you won’t get away with a tattoo at most five-start hotels, coffee shops and some restaurants aimed at younger generations will likely greet workers with tattoos, as long as they are not offensive and on the neck or face.
Source: https://nypost.com/2016/11/26/meet-the-chefs-who-wear-their-love-of-food-on-their-skin/
Tattoos in the Workplace Statistics: Are Tattooed Employees Treated Differently?
In the past, tattoos have existed on the edge of society. Having a tattoo used to mean you were not capable of being a professional and was also closely linked to criminal activity and organizations, outlaws, and bikers. They were, again, used as a way of showing who you side with. Even in prison, where tattooing is illegal, it is possible to get a tattoo.
Shifting Views On Tattoos
Today, this art form leaves those negative connotations behind. Tattoos are no longer a form of rebellion or a mark of an unsavory character. Tattoos are increasingly viewed as a form of self-expression and individuality, so research from 2015 showed that 23% of men and 37% of women had tattoos, and many businesses have embraced this change. Today, more than 40% of people in The US between the ages of 18-29 have at least one tattoo. Around 36% of people aged 35-50 have a tattoo, while the percentage of Americans over 50 with tattoos is only 16%.
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Benefits Of Diversity In The Workplace
Companies today recognize the benefits of diversity in the workplace, and that is the main reason for this paradigm shift. Your background, culture, experiences, and personal expression make up who you are. Embracing diversity and allowing expression through tattoos can make employees feel valued and respected for who they are.
However, among the surveys, 42% of people still consider displaying tattoos to be inappropriate in the workplace. Age is a significant factor, so approximately 63% of people over 60 feel that tattoos are inappropriate at work, while only 22% of people aged 18-25 agree that ink doesn’t belong in the workplace.
Are Tattooed Workers Discriminated?
The attitude toward tattoos is changing thanks to millennials and Gen Z entering the workforce. While some customers still held negative stereotypes about tattoos, the tattooed employees had just as many sales as the untattooed ones. According to Teamstage research, only 4% of people with tattoos report experiencing discrimination at work, while approximately 15% of women report discrimination at work because of tattoos.
What Are The Pros Of Allowing Tattoos In The Workplace?
As you can deduce, some industries are more inclined to hire people with body art than others. Some companies will allow tattoos, and some will want you to cover them up. While most people talk about the bad sides of tattoos in the workplace, such as acts of unprofessionalism, offending or even scaring clients, there are also advantages of allowing tattoos in the workplace.
Pros of workplace tattoos are:
- Bigger talent pool. Closing the door on tattooed people would mean missing out on 40% of the young demographic that is entering the workforce. For older workers, that percent value might be lower, but still, it all adds up to companies losing access to a lot of skillful employees.
- Creativity. Businesses that allow tattoos are usually creative in nature. Hair and makeup salons, graphic design studios even culinary arts can benefit from creative thinkers who can develop a more attractive and innovative business. Inked employees can also be appealing to clients since their body art showcases their aesthetic sense.
Source: https://www.allure.com/story/how-to-support-local-salons
- Promoting self-expression. Allowing tattoos makes employees feel more valued as individuals. Your tattoo is a personal and unique form of self-expression. Your ink will forever showcase who you are, your beliefs, and any other cultural message you want to send.
- Strengthening workplace bonds. Tattoos are a great conversation starter and an icebreaker. Employees can make communities of like-minded people and bond over shared interests. Being friendly with your coworkers can make you more productive and make the job more fulfilling.
- Promoting diversity. Many people have tattoos that are a part of their religion and culture. Allowing visible tattoos at work promotes diversity and inclusion. It also helps bring in unique backgrounds by creating an accepting environment for people.
Body Art in the Workplace: Self-expression vs Professional Image
The presence of tattoos in the workplace necessitates thoughtful consideration and clear policies. While attitudes towards tattoos have evolved, it is imperative for organizations to strike a balance between individual expression and professional image.
Well-crafted tattoo policies should be inclusive, respecting employees’ diverse backgrounds and preferences while also upholding the company’s values and customer expectations. Open communication and flexibility are key in accommodating employees with tattoos and fostering a positive work environment.
Ultimately, the success of workplace tattoo policies lies in their ability to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, allowing employees to express themselves while maintaining a professional and respectful atmosphere.
Otherwise, we also provide other tattoo guides for your reference.
