Tattoos in the workplace...?

_snw_

i am fully sleeved. I work for a very large international corporation. I wear long sleeves every single day. Even during summer. Do they ask me to? No. But I do it out of respect for my career. Not that ink is disrespectful, I just don't really see it as "professional".

_snw_

Kind of off topic, but I thought it would be an appropriate addition to the thread:

love it. i'm stealing it.

fatboypup

Everything in moderation. If you have sleeves, cover them up. If you have a small wrist tattoo, it's fine. I have a small one-inch tattoo on my ankle that I don't think is an issue, but a co-worker has one that completely covers her foot that she keeps hidden.

I think thats total garbage .... A tattoo is a tattoo be it an inch big or a full sleeve ....... If the rules are no tattoos then I cover mine but it needs to be fair

imstartingwithme

Luckily I've always worked in jobs that have celebrated individuality. I think this old idea of conservative dress in a job is severely outdated. If you can do your job, and well, there should be no problem.

aippolito1

I have a small silhouette of a hummingbird (as in, filled in black) on the inside of my left wrist. I work retail so it's not a big deal, but I have a couple bracelets that easily cover it if I have a job interview or plan to go to a more *cough* stuffy environment. I've yet to have a customer comment on it in any way, shape, or form, since I got it. All my friends pull on my wrist and ask "what is this?" when they see me, though. lol It's nice.

AllanMisner

In an environment where it is already tough to find a job, it may be a strike against you (right or wrong, that's the fact). I have mine where nobody can see it (as does the doctor in the picture above). You can have yours out in the open and that might be fine. But you are taking a chance that it won't be accepted and could cost you a job.

spectralmoon

I'm also loving that picture. It's actually pretty relevant to the day I had today; I had to pick up my high school transcripts, and nearly everyone that showed up during the same few minutes had huge gauged earrings, 'hawks, tattoos, piercings... and all of them together were graduating college this semester to be geneticists, doctors, lab techs, radiologists, and... one more, but I forgot. It was a proud moment, though, seeing the look on the worker's face while he made conversation with all of us.


As far as tattoos... I'm actually planning for a pretty big one running down the side of my ribs, selected secondarily because of my job. The funeral industry and its main clients aren't really in the mood for self expression and tolerance (understandably), so all ink and metal are on lockdown and covered up. I wouldn't mind seeing it personally in this field, but I can appreciate why others might not want to.

As far as all other fields, no offense or eyebrows raised at all. The tech that gives me my iron shots has huge stretched out earlobes, and it doesn't faze me in the least.

Minnesnowtagurl

I have tattoos but in places no one at work would typically see. I have my nose pierced but the stud is super tiny. Unfortunately when we choose the life style with tattoos and piercing we open the door to be judge on appearance. I agree about business coming first, unless you are in an enviorment that is really laid back.

MyFeistyEvolution

My company does not want them showing as they don't fit in the with the type of image they want to portray to the community.

When I worked in locations where I was face to face with customers all day, I could get away with my nose ring but always tried to keep my tats covered up. The location I'm in now is more "behind the scenes" so I don't worry as much. If I'm requested to go out and train or help in a branch, I will wear something with a collar.

I need a job. I'm not going to fight about their rules. It's their company and if I want a paycheck, I will abide by their standards.

Minnesnowtagurl

Kind of off topic, but I thought it would be an appropriate addition to the thread:

WOW! Powerful picture I work with Doctors and some of them have tattoos and ride motorcycles and live on the edge...doesn't mean you respect them less! I Love this picture

ahealthy4u

My tattoos are covered for the most part, however I think if they are done right and look like a real piece of art they shouldn't be covered up.

So
A. fined a profession that doesn’t care
B. Cover them up
C. Or don't apply for a job that doesn’t allow it is as simply as common sense “LOL”
D. A company shouldn’t discriminate against it either.

AddA2UDE

I have a couple of friends in this thread who have KILLER ink!! I'm way envious. For now, mine don't show (shoulder and leg). However, one of these days.............. I am starting my own business in a couple of months and hope to build it big enough that I can quit my "good job." If and when that happens, I will be rewarding myself with sleeves. I have always wanted them but can't because of work. Things to look forward to 1) Getting in shape 2) building a successful business that will enable me to be who I want to be. Life is gooooooooood!!!!

clydethecat

three of my route techs have pretty big tattoos on they're arms and legs. all the tattoos are very tasteful, some very beautiful, so i have no problem sending them out to our customers house. the only time i've fielded a complaint was when one of our now ex route techs came in with a face tattoo. i think face, neck and hands are areas i would not allow my guys to get tattoo'd.

our current route techs are very tasteful and respectful. i had one of my guys bring me a new tat design and let me know where he was going to put it for my approval...

no problem with tasteful tattoo's..

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

Totally did a speech over this topic!
If the person does their job well, they should be able to have them.

scs143

I am a lawyer and I have one on the top of my foot that can be seen. I am in court daily and I have never had a judge comment. Other lawyers comment but I just keep the conversation moving because it has nothing to do with my profession. I find if i don't make a big deal out of it, neither does anyone else.

lilRicki

My teacher always said "competence equals deviance"...if you aren't a genius at what you do, don't try and bend the rules.

ShapeUpSidney

Why is it more professional to cover them? Remember I keep mine covered anyway.

Why is a person not as professional, smart looking or capable of doing a job if you can see their tattoo?

the same reason that t shirts with dragons printed on them arent professional in the office...im guessing

It's about aesthetics, and professional looking attire, I would assume. Now, if you could get a tattoo that was very "Brooks Brothers", I suppose you wouldnt cover it...lol

EmCarroll1990

I am pro tattoos in the workplace. The only ones I would say shouldn't be there are facial tattoos. I would love to get more tattoos but I think, at the place I'm at, they would need to be able to get covered, at least the chest piece I want would need to be.

HMD7703

I work for the Government and have a tat on my arm/wrist. I dont make a big deal out of it and I do not hide it. In fact, many of the directors have noticed and mention it; which then turns into friendly conversation.

For me, I love to see these men I work with day in and day out that wear a suit everyday except Friday. BOOM on casual Friday they have a short sleeve shirt and tons of tats... I love it. I think tats are super sexy and even more sexy when you don't expect the person to have them.

tinkerbell42381

I have 5 tattoos, 3 of which are mostly visible in the summer months (ankle, foot, top of back); I also have my nose pierced. I have never had any issues with having to cover up for work, and I am the director of a program run by a well known local non-profit agency. I have coworkers who have much larger tattoos and more radical piercings, all of whom hold managerial positions within my agency. Based solely on my own experiences, I believe that if you dress professionally and act responsibly, the majority of people do not think any less of you for having body art.

Mechel79

I work for the Government and have a tat on my arm/wrist. I dont make a big deal out of it and I do not hide it. In fact, many of the directors have noticed and mention it; which then turns into friendly conversation.

For me, I love to see these men I work with day in and day out that wear a suit everyday except Friday. BOOM on casual Friday they have a short sleeve shirt and tons of tats... I love it. I think tats are super sexy and even more sexy when you don't expect the person to have them.

I too work for the government and I have 10 tattoos, three that are always visible (one on each wrist and one on my foot). My tattoos have no impact on my ability to do my job, people notice them the first time they meet me and it never becomes a topic again. Personally, I feel like at some point in your career, you have to try to find a job that fits you, rather than the other way around. If an employer will not promote me based on my body art, I do not want to devote the majority of my waking hours working there anyways. I get that we live in a visual age, but in my experience the only difference between tattooed people and non-tattooed people is, tattooed people do not care if you are not tattooed.

MyFeistyEvolution

Totally did a speech over this topic!
If the person does their job well, they should be able to have them.

Sure....but a company also has the right to not hire them if they don't want tattoos in their workplace.

thesarahsundae

I have 4 tattoos and most are covered this time of year. However, in the summer you can see them because of the other options of clothes. I don't have an issue with it and neither does the company I work for.

paulamarsden

i have a full sleeve.

i work in corp sales for T-Mobile.

i cover up with customers, my work colleagues have seen it all.

its my choice, i dont have to.

my finger tattoo is always on show, being judged is something im used to. i dont have the problem, they do.

paulamarsden

Totally did a speech over this topic!
If the person does their job well, they should be able to have them.

Sure....but a company also has the right to not hire them if they don't want tattoos in their workplace.

VERY much debatable. This wouldnt fly too well in the European court of human rights.

discrimination is discrimination whether its over race, sex, gender, sexual preference or body art.

fatboypup

someday i hope body art will be included

sjohnny

I wear long sleeves to cover mine up at work - even on casual sex fridays. I have a sleeve in progress on my left arm that sometimes peaks out from my sleeve at the wrist but it's not that big a deal. All the rest of mine are easily covered by a long sleeve shirt. I work for a government agency in a position that is traditionally pretty conservative. There isn't a policy against visible tattoos but there are several policies that currently exist here because of me and I don't see a need to try to have them make more. There are a few other people in other divisions that have the occassional visible tattoo so maybe after my sleeve is finished I'll wear a short sleeve shirt on a friday but wearing long sleeves hasn't made me start limping yet - even in Texas summers.

Pookylou

I wear uniform at my work (short and long sleeved shirts), my wrist tattoos are always on display, you can see my half sleeve a little when I wear the the short sleeves, not had any issues. As there are firefighters with visible tattoos (wear short sleeves all year round) there is little they can say!
Though not sure how well a full sleeve would go down.... I do think I would try and keep it covered up.

redkim615

I have tattoos that are visible and no one has said anything bad about them yet. If I was asked to cover them I would, out of respect for my workplace.

Libby81

I don't class my tattoos as fashion of any kind. They are more a part of me and who I am than any poxy suit or dress I decide to wear. I never dress to conciously cover my tattoos up. My wrist one is always on show as is my ankle one in the summer. I have never been asked to cover them up eithet and would hate to work for such a bigoted company that would ask me to do that.