Help my petition? (Tattoos in the workplace).

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135

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  • A_New_Horizon
    A_New_Horizon Posts: 1,555 Member
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    Signed for you - not offensive and can be covered up = no problem

    I don't have any tattoos yet, but I am getting 2 of them (that can be covered up) - I work in the healthcare field, and my cousin has 3 = no problem for her.

    Good luck
  • jaymek92
    jaymek92 Posts: 309 Member
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    Signed!
    I think that if the tattoo is not offensive or gang-related, there's no reason it shouldn't be permitted. A lot of people have tattoos. Should somebody really be denied the job of their dreams because they chose to get a tattoo? You don't discriminate against people who have had nose jobs like that, so why is it excusable to discriminate against somebody who got a tattoo? And more importantly, with all of the criminal issues going on, do you really want to tell somebody they cannot be a police officer because of the way that they look if they are otherwise capable?
  • Flugangst
    Flugangst Posts: 98 Member
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    Perhaps I misread, or missed a part, but I don't believe you mentioned whether or not he has or has not applied outside of his Jurisdiction.

    If the other cities/counties are so accepting of Tattoos, like you claim them to be, why doesn't your man apply at those agencies in those other cities/counties?
  • KharismaticKayteh
    KharismaticKayteh Posts: 322 Member
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    Interesting situation! I'm a teacher in SC and in my district, teachers are not allowed to have visible tattoos. They can't be seen at all, so that means covering them with a bandaid, makeup, etc. Student teachers at the nearby universities are told not to get them or get them so they can be covered up because they won't be hired with them. I don't see it as discrimination.

    In my situation, since I work with impressionable youth I can completely understand my district's position. In your spouse/bf's situation, he is working with the public as well. While he isn't working necessarily only with you tattoos do present a certain impression whether people want to believe that or not. Unfortunately, sometimes when rules are changed within an organization the previous employees are grandfathered in, meaning the new rules, don't apply to them b/c they are already employed. This is not discrimination- it's a procedural change. My suggestion to you and your bf is to either cover it with makeup, remove it, or find employment somewhere else. Good luck!
    That's the problem. None of them are given the *option* to cover it up, even if it's totally capable of being covered. I could understand if they wanted it hidden, but they don't want their new hires to have it *at all*.
  • SteffieMark
    SteffieMark Posts: 1,723 Member
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    I signed it. I grew up in Conway and moved to Seattle 8 years ago. My entire family still lives in Arkansas. I can't tell you how many times that someone has heard me speak and asked where I am from, because I still have some southern accent left. I answer Arkansas and more times than I can count, I hear how people think it's a 'Hick' state.

    Things like this show it IS a hick state. That makes me sad. The people of Arkansas are the warmest, friendliest people I have ever met. I have tattoos and will be getting more soon. I'm pretty sure that they have never kept me from doing anything. I wish you luck.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
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    ...and to the dude you are talking to...tattoos aren't scary. No scarier than a faux hawk, or cuffed sleeves on the muscles...

    they arent scary to me but to a lot of older conservative people, they are

    I dont make the rules or peoples attitudes but lets stay real
  • nwhitley
    nwhitley Posts: 619
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    Interesting situation! I'm a teacher in SC and in my district, teachers are not allowed to have visible tattoos. They can't be seen at all, so that means covering them with a bandaid, makeup, etc. Student teachers at the nearby universities are told not to get them or get them so they can be covered up because they won't be hired with them. I don't see it as discrimination.

    In my situation, since I work with impressionable youth I can completely understand my district's position. In your spouse/bf's situation, he is working with the public as well. While he isn't working necessarily only with you tattoos do present a certain impression whether people want to believe that or not. Unfortunately, sometimes when rules are changed within an organization the previous employees are grandfathered in, meaning the new rules, don't apply to them b/c they are already employed. This is not discrimination- it's a procedural change. My suggestion to you and your bf is to either cover it with makeup, remove it, or find employment somewhere else. Good luck!
    That's the problem. None of them are given the *option* to cover it up, even if it's totally capable of being covered. I could understand if they wanted it hidden, but they don't want their new hires to have it *at all*.

    If it's covered and not visible when he applied, how do they know? Did they strip search him? Just lacking in understanding.
  • jaymek92
    jaymek92 Posts: 309 Member
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    ...and to the dude you are talking to...tattoos aren't scary. No scarier than a faux hawk, or cuffed sleeves on the muscles...

    they arent scary to me but to a lot of older conservative people, they are

    I dont make the rules or peoples attitudes but lets stay real
    To a lot of older conservative people, black men or large men with a lot of muscles are scary. Should they not be allowed on the police force?
  • KharismaticKayteh
    KharismaticKayteh Posts: 322 Member
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    Perhaps I misread, or missed a part, but I don't believe you mentioned whether or not he has or has not applied outside of his Jurisdiction.

    If the other cities/counties are so accepting of Tattoos, like you claim them to be, why doesn't your man apply at those agencies in those other cities/counties?
    He has! =). And he's qualified with all of them. They can't hire him until a position opens up, but when one does, if he's next in line, he'll get the job. ^~^.

    Like I mentioned before though, this petition isn't just about him. Even if he gets a job with another department, I'm still going to pursue this petition for anyone else who has been wronged in this way. Ultimately, this started with his experience, but it is *not* about only him, but the many people who have been turned away for this superficial reason.
  • vade43113
    vade43113 Posts: 836 Member
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    and regarding the cops who already have tats.. new chief,new regime.. happens all the time
    No, the current chief of police has been the chief of police for several years.
    Then the cops got the tattoos after the fact of hiring, or hid them, and now can't be fired for that reason alone. I agree with the others, I don't see it as discrimination. If you can bring up evidence he hired someone with full knowledge of a tatt, that is one thing.... Good luck, but I can't sign it. Sorry
  • HealthierHappierBrenda
    HealthierHappierBrenda Posts: 221 Member
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    I signed it. Good luck!!!
  • KharismaticKayteh
    KharismaticKayteh Posts: 322 Member
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    Interesting situation! I'm a teacher in SC and in my district, teachers are not allowed to have visible tattoos. They can't be seen at all, so that means covering them with a bandaid, makeup, etc. Student teachers at the nearby universities are told not to get them or get them so they can be covered up because they won't be hired with them. I don't see it as discrimination.

    In my situation, since I work with impressionable youth I can completely understand my district's position. In your spouse/bf's situation, he is working with the public as well. While he isn't working necessarily only with you tattoos do present a certain impression whether people want to believe that or not. Unfortunately, sometimes when rules are changed within an organization the previous employees are grandfathered in, meaning the new rules, don't apply to them b/c they are already employed. This is not discrimination- it's a procedural change. My suggestion to you and your bf is to either cover it with makeup, remove it, or find employment somewhere else. Good luck!
    That's the problem. None of them are given the *option* to cover it up, even if it's totally capable of being covered. I could understand if they wanted it hidden, but they don't want their new hires to have it *at all*.

    If it's covered and not visible when he applied, how do they know? Did they strip search him? Just lacking in understanding.
    When he went in to interview with the corporal, they had a good chat, and he eventually said to the officer, "I've gotta show you something though," and revealed the tattoo on his arm. The corporal was very upset and told him that he was very, very sorry he couldn't hire him even though he was ideal for the position -- they have hired people before who have hidden their tattoos, and then got in a *lot* of trouble for it.
  • KharismaticKayteh
    KharismaticKayteh Posts: 322 Member
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    and regarding the cops who already have tats.. new chief,new regime.. happens all the time
    No, the current chief of police has been the chief of police for several years.
    Then the cops got the tattoos after the fact of hiring, or hid them, and now can't be fired for that reason alone. I agree with the others, I don't see it as discrimination. If you can bring up evidence he hired someone with full knowledge of a tatt, that is one thing.... Good luck, but I can't sign it. Sorry
    You're absolutely fine if you don't want to sign it. However, I am still going to correct you that this *is a recent change*. Why is no one getting that?

    One more time. THIS IS A RECENT CHANGE IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
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    ...and to the dude you are talking to...tattoos aren't scary. No scarier than a faux hawk, or cuffed sleeves on the muscles...

    they arent scary to me but to a lot of older conservative people, they are

    I dont make the rules or peoples attitudes but lets stay real
    To a lot of older conservative people, black men or large men with a lot of muscles are scary. Should they not be allowed on the police force?

    is that the same thing? tats have a stigma of prison with older people. blacks and muscles dont
  • rhonniema
    rhonniema Posts: 522 Member
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    Signed!
  • vade43113
    vade43113 Posts: 836 Member
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    and regarding the cops who already have tats.. new chief,new regime.. happens all the time
    No, the current chief of police has been the chief of police for several years.
    Then the cops got the tattoos after the fact of hiring, or hid them, and now can't be fired for that reason alone. I agree with the others, I don't see it as discrimination. If you can bring up evidence he hired someone with full knowledge of a tatt, that is one thing.... Good luck, but I can't sign it. Sorry
    You're absolutely fine if you don't want to sign it. However, I am still going to correct you that this *is a recent change*. Why is no one getting that?

    One more time. THIS IS A RECENT CHANGE IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
    You didn't say that in your opening post... and I was just going off of it.... Also, their might be a reason for the change, If it is a big issue, write the mayor or the city council. With all the information you have given, they are the ones that get the final say, after all...
  • KharismaticKayteh
    KharismaticKayteh Posts: 322 Member
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    and regarding the cops who already have tats.. new chief,new regime.. happens all the time
    No, the current chief of police has been the chief of police for several years.
    Then the cops got the tattoos after the fact of hiring, or hid them, and now can't be fired for that reason alone. I agree with the others, I don't see it as discrimination. If you can bring up evidence he hired someone with full knowledge of a tatt, that is one thing.... Good luck, but I can't sign it. Sorry
    You're absolutely fine if you don't want to sign it. However, I am still going to correct you that this *is a recent change*. Why is no one getting that?

    One more time. THIS IS A RECENT CHANGE IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
    You didn't say that in your opening post... and I was just going off of it.... Also, their might be a reason for the change, If it is a big issue, write the mayor or the city council. With all the information you have given, they are the ones that get the final say, after all...
    No, I'm not sure whether it's in the main post, but it is in a few posts replying to others. I'm not sure if you realize this, but the point of a petition is to show said decision maker that people back this up. Whether I speak to the chief of police, the mayor, or anyone else, I don't want them to think I'm only one opinion.
  • jaymek92
    jaymek92 Posts: 309 Member
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    ...and to the dude you are talking to...tattoos aren't scary. No scarier than a faux hawk, or cuffed sleeves on the muscles...

    they arent scary to me but to a lot of older conservative people, they are

    I dont make the rules or peoples attitudes but lets stay real
    To a lot of older conservative people, black men or large men with a lot of muscles are scary. Should they not be allowed on the police force?

    is that the same thing? tats have a stigma of prison with older people. blacks and muscles dont
    They do to some older people. I have a tattoo and my grandmother didn't think I got it from a stint in prison. But if she sees a black man walking down the street, she tends to think he's involved in drugs or gangs, and black women tend to be prostitutes in her mind. And while muscles may not make one think of prison, prison usually makes one think of muscles (since they don't do much else, they usually do a lot of working out).
  • Flugangst
    Flugangst Posts: 98 Member
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    Perhaps I misread, or missed a part, but I don't believe you mentioned whether or not he has or has not applied outside of his Jurisdiction.

    If the other cities/counties are so accepting of Tattoos, like you claim them to be, why doesn't your man apply at those agencies in those other cities/counties?
    He has! =). And he's qualified with all of them. They can't hire him until a position opens up, but when one does, if he's next in line, he'll get the job. ^~^.

    Like I mentioned before though, this petition isn't just about him. Even if he gets a job with another department, I'm still going to pursue this petition for anyone else who has been wronged in this way. Ultimately, this started with his experience, but it is *not* about only him, but the many people who have been turned away for this superficial reason.

    Ah, okay. I'm a little on the fence with this, honestly. I could see if his tattoo was offensive in which it depicted gang related markings, racist tendencies, nudity, etc, etc, but from what I have been reading (I lurk a lot before I reply) his tattoo seems pretty minuscule. This Department does seem to be taking this a little over board. If he's capable of covering it, I don't see why it's such a huge issue...Besides the professionalism part of it. But I believe one can be professional while still wearing a Tattoo...This is one of those things where it varies by the agency. Each agency has different rules and what not. Regardless, I wish him luck and thank him for what he wants to do.
  • nukehiker
    nukehiker Posts: 457
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    signed !! nothing wrong with ppl who have tats !!