Tattoos anyone?

rocksyraeis

So ive got 8 pieces of ink on my body, all of which are covered by my clothing well i went with my cousin to her OB appointment (shes 28 weeks prego) and her receptionist had a tattoo feather on her wrist (beautiful grey wash) and gages in her ears along with black and red highlights my cousin just stared at her with this bewildered look. Well fast forward we are in the office and a nurse walks in he has tattoos on his right arm and again my cousin with that look so i asked "you dont like tattoos..?" i asked kinda like, really? She has one on her forearm she just plainly said. " i dont mind them i have one myself obviously but in a professional atmosphere i dont believe they should be showing..its jist very different from how strict buisness used to be about self-expression i would have never been able to have gauges or visible tattoos when i was her age." the girl looked about 16, maybe a LIL older my cousin is 26. What do you think? Do you think companys should be more relaxed about tattoos, piercings, and gauges, ect or should they be more strict in covering them?

LadyIvysMom

Unless there is something fundamentally offensive about the tattoo in question, I see no reason why it needs to be covered up. It doesn't have anything to do with how well the person does their job...

PaleoPath4Lyfe

So ive got 8 pieces of ink on my body, all of which are covered by my clothing well i went with my cousin to her OB appointment (shes 28 weeks prego) and her receptionist had a tattoo feather on her wrist (beautiful grey wash) and gages in her ears along with black and red highlights my cousin just stared at her with this bewildered look. Well fast forward we are in the office and a nurse walks in he has tattoos on his right arm and again my cousin with that look so i asked "you dont like tattoos..?" i asked kinda like, really? She has one on her forearm she just plainly said. " i dont mind them i have one myself obviously but in a professional atmosphere i dont believe they should be showing..its jist very different from how strict buisness used to be about self-expression i would have never been able to have gauges or visible tattoos when i was her age." the girl looked about 16, maybe a LIL older my cousin is 26. What do you think? Do you think companys should be more relaxed about tattoos, piercings, and gauges, ect or should they be more strict in covering them?

Yes, people need to relax where tattoos and piercings are concerned.

Tattoos and piercings DO NOT make a person unprofessional. That person as the individual and how they carry themselves is what makes a person professional or unprofessional.

I have seen plenty of unprofessional people that have no visible tattoos.

MiCool90

Got'em, love'em!

rocksyraeis

Unless there is something fundamentally offensive about the tattoo in question, I see no reason why it needs to be covered up. It doesn't have anything to do with how well the person does their job...

I agree, i honestly think if we were able to self express more in the job atmosphere we would be more comfortable and possibly perform better.

rdlangy1

got sleeve, and 3 others - will have more...

christinet8504

I'm a sales rep so obviously I have a customer facing job. Personally, I love tattoos and I have most of my back done. HOWEVER, my company requires a professional look. I'd be out the door if I had anything visible. They even look down upon people changing hair color.....

It depends on your employer I guess, but to be safe, if you're looking to have a professional job at any time in your career, I would suggest making them hide able.

courtneyleem

My parents feel the same way as your cousin. I have two tattoos that are easily covered (I wanted it that way, as a teacher). I like tattoos, but the gauge earrings make me feel kind of queasy. I don't find them attractive, and I'll admit I get a little judge-y when I see them on someone.

rdlangy1

p.s. - im in senior management - and all mine can be covered with a long sleeve shirt...

879311

I have a small cross on my left hand that my best friend had...he died of cancer in 2003 and the day we buried him, I got the same thing. I also have an arm band on my right arm but it's high enough that even t-shirts cover it....

rocksyraeis

So technically most of you agree to having them hidden if you want to present yourself in a professional matter kind of a "dress for success" mind state right? i can see that.

MonicaLee92

Unless there is something fundamentally offensive about the tattoo in question, I see no reason why it needs to be covered up. It doesn't have anything to do with how well the person does their job...

I agree with this completely. I have to cover up my tattoos and one of them is even a medical alert tattoo. I don't see why it should be a problem unless it says or shows something offensive. Hopefully one day it'll be okay for everyone to show their tattoos in the work place.

christinet8504

So technically most of you agree to having them hidden if you want to present yourself in a professional matter kind of a "dress for success" mind state right? i can see that.

Most definitely! Unless you work in a super trendy field where that's explicitly OK.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

I'm a sales rep so obviously I have a customer facing job. Personally, I love tattoos and I have most of my back done. HOWEVER, my company requires a professional look. I'd be out the door if I had anything visible. They even look down upon people changing hair color.....

It depends on your employer I guess, but to be safe, if you're looking to have a professional job at any time in your career, I would suggest making them hide able.

I could never go back to working for a conservative company like this. I now work with a company that I can self express and show my tattoos if so I wish.

My self expression (style of clothes, make up, hair color, tattoos, piercings, etc) have no bearing on the professional that I am.

I have been told that I have the best customer service ethic of anyone they have encountered and I have half sleeve on my left arm that is always peeking out of my short sleeve shirts.

Yanicka1

I was at the water park yesterday..... I can honestly say that 40% of adults had tattoo. They are becoming so common that I don't see why people should hide them unless offensive. I have a big tattoo that take half my back. It show a little bit when I have my hair up.

iiiEllie

My company couldn't care less about any of my ink, or piercings, a lot of the senior management has a few tattoos and they wear their little polo shirts to show them off most days. I typically don't have any negative reactions when it comes to my tattoos, however they're almost all flowers, birds, cute animals, so forth. So people usually just find them adorable or pretty. - Even my mother who can't stand most tattoos likes MOST of mine.

misslady72

I have a few However, they are in places that they can be easily covered. My employer doesn't have a problem with it but I might want to reinvent myself one day and go elsewhere lol. I am getting a new one on my wrist though. So that one wont be able to be covered.

Irishmoonwitch

I work at a bank and my manager will allow me to show my wrist tattoo's. But the one right above my right breast has to be hidden. And all it is, is a Phoenix rising from flames sayings Strength in Gaelic. And when a part of the wing is showing all my customers ask about it and love it. And I work in a retirement community where 95% of my customers are retired.

I think all companies need to relax about tattoo's. They are so common these days. I personally have six and I do not like having to hide them. Specially my Phoenix when it is meant for surviving cervix cancer.

emjay1971

If the people would get the attitude that having tattoos/ body piercings/ body art makes you any different of a person, we could be accepted as a normal part of society.

People get the wrong impression of me all the time. Think I'm a bully/ aggressive, a party animal, on drugs, etc. I am just a normal person, working a not-so normal job, living a normal, pay-the-bills life. Normal problems. I am just your average person, with a lot of tattoos and piercings. Actually, I might even call myself boring LOL...

People look at me crazy when I'm shopping, like I shouldn't have money, because I'm tattooed. I shouldn't have a job, because I'm pierced.

I would go to a doctor (of course, qualified) that had tattoos, or a lawyer, or a dentist, or anywhere, that supported tattoos in the workplace. Stop being snobs and realize we are just the same, just chose to wear our art on our bodies, instead of hang it in our homes, where no one sees it.

AJ_Pete

I think people should be and are getting to be more relaxed with tattoos. I have a very important business meeting on Thursday that could bump me up to 6 figures and I will be hiding my tattoos for the initial meeting because I want to the focus to be on what I can bring to the table and I don't want him to have any misconceptions about me because I don't know him or his ideals. I have 7 tattoos including a giant owl on my forearm, a peacock across my foot, and some grouplove lyrics from my right shoulder to my collarbone.

A person's capabilities should speak louder than their tattoos, but for some, there's still a stigma attached. I think it's getting more widely accepted though.

MonkRocker

Unless there is something fundamentally offensive about the tattoo in question, I see no reason why it needs to be covered up. It doesn't have anything to do with how well the person does their job...

I agree, i honestly think if we were able to self express more in the job atmosphere we would be more comfortable and possibly perform better.

This is actually one of the guiding principles the company I work for lives by. And they have proven that not only is it true, but our team member happiness is off the charts. Happy employees = job comfort = better service.

RotterdamNL

both arms, hands and fingers, on my throat and neck around \m/ bunch of piercings too lol

embersfallen

So ive got 8 pieces of ink on my body, all of which are covered by my clothing well i went with my cousin to her OB appointment (shes 28 weeks prego) and her receptionist had a tattoo feather on her wrist (beautiful grey wash) and gages in her ears along with black and red highlights my cousin just stared at her with this bewildered look. Well fast forward we are in the office and a nurse walks in he has tattoos on his right arm and again my cousin with that look so i asked "you dont like tattoos..?" i asked kinda like, really? She has one on her forearm she just plainly said. " i dont mind them i have one myself obviously but in a professional atmosphere i dont believe they should be showing..its jist very different from how strict buisness used to be about self-expression i would have never been able to have gauges or visible tattoos when i was her age." the girl looked about 16, maybe a LIL older my cousin is 26. What do you think? Do you think companys should be more relaxed about tattoos, piercings, and gauges, ect or should they be more strict in covering them?

Yes, people need to relax where tattoos and piercings are concerned.

Tattoos and piercings DO NOT make a person unprofessional. That person as the individual and how they carry themselves is what makes a person professional or unprofessional.

I have seen plenty of unprofessional people that have no visible tattoos.

WELL said. Professionalism has nothing to do with tattoos, hair etc. It's an attitidude and demeanor..... I work as a medical receptionist... have bright red streaks in my hair ( which is medium dark brown, but I dye blueblack) ... Purple streaks at one point...why? Because I'd always wanted to try it...AND all my nurses thought it would be cool. Lol. Even the more conservative ones egged me on to do it. Then... of the older nurses, who works directly with patients day in and day out... put a nice streak of the same purple in her silver hair because she liked it so much. LOVED that!!!!! ) I also have a nose piercing....AND a few visable tattoos. I have been at that job ten years...and got them all while I was here. None of the doctors in my office has any problem with me..... I get my job done, and deal with unpleasant callers all day.....

I went to see a specialist a few months ago...and SHE...the DOCTOR... had the most beautiful tattoo on her foot. It was the medical symbol...obviously something she takes a lot of pride in. With or without that tattoo, she was one of the best Doctors I have ever met with..... loved she had a tatt though, because it totally broke a stereotype!

And yes...there ARE oodles of supposedly * professional* looking people...who act like toads. Having an outward sense of style and expression...has NOTHING to do with professionalism or non. It's how a person acts and treats others.

And like someone else said...I could never work for a company again that is that over the top conservative. I work so I can afford life....not so my life can be conformed to someone else's thoughts. Having stable employment should not dictate how you can look in your off time!

julesassid

I was at the water park yesterday..... I can honestly say that 40% of adults had tattoo. They are becoming so common that I don't see why people should hide them unless offensive. I have a big tattoo that take half my back. It show a little bit when I have my hair up.

Exactly. If someone has one hiding, I don't think it's fair to judge someone else for their choice of tattoo / placement. I think if the employer is okay with showing them, then go ahead and do it. I'd be out of a job if mine could never show, one's on my foot and one on my ankle, i would never be able to wear a skirt / dress or go sockless in dress shoes. I think it's amazing to see other people's art, it reminds me that everyone is an individual. It's 2012, tattoos are no longer taboo.

600racer

I don't have a tattoo but if someone wants one, it's their skin. I sort of understand why tattoos are popular but I've under gone too many changes in life to mark something permanent. After 25 years I thought a wedding ring would be permanent but.....

My tattoos are scars. Scars are like tattoos only a better story. lol.

aj_31

I don't think a tattoo says if a person is professional or not but working in a professional office with many upper senior management staff I keep most of mine covered. The only one that shows is on my ankle. It's pretty large but so far no one has ever said anything and when our bosses from NY come in I either wear black tights or pants to cover it.

Another employee said we had something written in our handbook about covering tattoos but I couldn't find it.

amandatomicbomb

i am 100% for acceptance of tattoos in the workplace. i work at a law office, and many people here have visible tattoos.

neverstray

You have to think to yourself about what it means to be professional.

I have an undergrad degree in Economics, and MBA and a great position in management at a fortune 500 company. I make big decisions and guide others careers as well as set policy and run projects for my company. And, you think because I have a few tattoos, I'm not a professional? Why does this matter to people so much? Professionalism is defined by your actions, not how you look. I thought we already went through all this in the 60's.

rocksyraeis

You have to think to yourself about what it means to be professional.

I have an undergrad degree in Economics, and MBA and a great position in management at a fortune 500 company. I make big decisions and guide others careers as well as set policy and run projects for my company. And, you think because I have a few tattoos, I'm not a professional? Why does this matter to people so much? Professionalism is defined by your actions, not how you look. I thought we already went through all this in the 60's.

Um i never said i thought it was unprofessional haha, im all on board with self expression and thinking for success i believe each position job, life, ect has its own set of whats exceptable and whats not. In my experience, however, id say that i try not to show my tattoos as some people still have that mindset i know it would be easier if i didnt have to worry about such silly things as covering my art haha. I mean really i have more important things to worry about then if people share my taste in what art is on my body lol

annielaurie88

i work in a professional office building and many people have tattoos and cute colored hair. it helps show who we really are. We are still all 100% professional. when i started i worked at the reception desk and more often than not people admired by wrist heart tattoo which is quite big and obvious. it prompts to small talk which is helpful!

tinabatinaflc

i have a full sleeve and 4 large tattoos all over my right leg (among others that are more easily hidden)... it was my choice, and i have to pay the consequences of living in this society - which is to wear long pants and long sleeves in certain atmospheres.

do i agree with it? absolutely not.
do i realize i will likely not be able to practice medicine if i don't comply? absolutely.

people still judge others based on appearance...its all a form of ignorance and prejudice.

welcome to the united snakes. land of the thief, home of the slave.