Tattoos in the work place.

I suppose it's like a lot of things in life. If a company has rules that you don't like, don't work for them. But if you want that job bad enough, follow the rules. Sadly, life is not fair.

Edit: Hmmm. I bet I'm going to get shredded for this post.

I got my first tattoo on my chest when I worked at my local council, a very 'all must wear suits and be prim and proper' place. But then, I also had blue hair and wore motorcycle boots to work. They didn't really care what I looked like, for some reason, so long as I didn't have my boobs spilling out.

But I know with other job interviews, I've gone with neutral coloured hair and clothes that covered my ink, and I take out my piercings, too, because it's sad but true: there are people against body mods, they will judge you on it, and there is nothing you can do about it, because it's still an accepted form of discrimination. I did a big presentation on this a while back, about how it's fine to discriminate against a current/potential employee for being 'alternative' and having ink, piercings, coloured hair etc, however, it's still discrimination, it's still negatively judging/treating someone because of who they are and what they look like. Tattoos are so commonplace now, it's ridiculous that people still view them so negatively.

Also, I had to fight my school when I was a teenager because I had a nose piercing that they tried to get me to remove, however, having my mother come in and explain as an Indian girl of age, it was traditional to get it done, they left me alone after that. Piercings can be cultural too, as can tattoos. My tattoos have meaning for me, are a part of me, and if people can't accept that then that is there problem, but what it comes down to is this: if I could get an awesome job by conforming and looking 'normal', I would, because that's how the world works, and after work I'll put the metal back in my face and bare my ink for the world to see.

Body mods do not affect character or capability to do your job well.

I think it depends on who you are at my job and what you do. I work at an insurance company. We don't see the customers but occasionally vendors and big wigs come through. I can remember being sat down as a temp for the company and being unofficially lectured about how tattoo's that were obvious would impact your career there. I don't know how true it is but it stuck with me. I only have 1 but won't get any that I can't hide. The way the job market is these days why risk adding any negative factors to me. That and i almost have my masters in education so no tattoo's for teachers.

I work in a professional, white collar line of work. They only allow us to wear jeans on Fridays, so I am sure they wouldn't be too thrilled with tattoos showing, though there was a guy here for a while who had gauges in his ears. I have two tattoos, but they are covered up when I am wearing my work attire.

I work in IT for the federal government and while there is a "dress" code, working in IT tends to have lots of leeway. Now as a supervisor I don't give a *kitten* what you look like or wear - either clothes, ink or metal. Can you program? are you reliable?
I don't have ink yet -- will be my reward when I hit the fifty pound mark

I suppose it's like a lot of things in life. If a company has rules that you don't like, don't work for them. But if you want that job bad enough, follow the rules. Sadly, life is not fair.

Edit: Hmmm. I bet I'm going to get shredded for this post.

No shredding from me. I agree.

I have a tattoo and personally I love them but I also enjoy having a professional career in a field where I know they are not looked upon kindly. So mine is in a place where it is always hidden. Life is about compromise. You don't want to compromise on showing ink, fine, but don't complain about the consequences, it's not like they're secret.

Anti discrimination laws should be for stuff people have no control over. I don't see why a company that is paying you shouldn't have the right to dictate your image (which becomes their image).

I worked at an upscale hotel chain for quite a few years. The women could have visible tattoos on their ankles and feet only. So I just wore a large ring to cover up the tattoo on my finger and the rest were hidden, except the one on my foot. It didn't really bother me. I now work at a very small office where they don't really care, it is very casual.

Ha Ha!! Guess I'll find out Monday. I have two tattoos already, but neither can be seen by anything I wear. I am going Saturday to get one on my wrist. I'll let ya know next week what kind of reaction, if and, that i get.

I let my employees show their work. I don't care if you have tattoos or piercings, I have them, so I say flaunt them! Id rather they be proud of their art than hide it. Most interviews end up talking about eachother's tattoos lol. I brought one employee for her first one haha

Don't feel so bad, as a male you have alot more liberties regarding personal appearance at the work place than in the past.
Many employers had dress codes and grooming codes. No hair below the ears, sideburns or fad beards such as goatees. No earings, or piercings. For the office, no jeans, mainly suits with ties or the companies blazers with logos. Many establishments would not allow you inside their doors if you had hair below your ears and did not follow dress codes.

For men, I believe we have gone through a period of liberation of how we look at work. Thank my rebellious generation for that lol !!!

It's not about how a tattoo may affect your performance. It's about how a tattoo may affect your clients'/customers' perception of you and the company. Perception is reality. It's business. It's not personal.

My leg and shoulder tattoos are completely covered at work, but when I go for bike rides with the guys at lunch they are plainly visible.

I work for an engineering firm. For normal day-to-day operations, there's no problem with showing our tattoos. However, for formal business meetings with clients/customers, most of us try to wear long sleeves. If nothing else, we then don't have to worry if our customer is prejudiced against tattoos. I haven't yet found anyone to be, but better to be safe than sorry.

I suppose it's like a lot of things in life. If a company has rules that you don't like, don't work for them. But if you want that job bad enough, follow the rules. Sadly, life is not fair.

Edit: Hmmm. I bet I'm going to get shredded for this post.

I agree too. It's like anything else in life IMHO, if you want to fit into a certain culture, you have to act an appear a certain way. If you want to be a corporate executive, you not only need to get the education, experience, etc needed, you also need to network, gain respect and a name for yourself in order to move up the ladder. If you decide to get visible ink, you have to know that this will very verly likely be a detriment to reaching your dream because it's not an accepted part of the general corporate culture (I'm sure there are exceptions - vid game, social media companies etc). Does it suck that you can't get visible ink and still be a CEO of some financial company even though you're a whiz at it - sure! But that's just the way it is.

As another example, the company I work for is fairly cool with tats. A manager in my department has one on her upper back that is visible when she wears certain things. Mine is in the same area and I don't currently have any shirts that leave it exposed. One of my coworkers has one on the back of her neck but it's hidden most of the time by her long hair. None of us have ever heard anything negative about our ink, only curious or positive comments. Part of the reason behind this is that, although this is a corporate office, we pride ourselves on being casual and comfortable most of the time (as long as clients are visiting) as the founders wanted that kind of environment and we're trying to keep it strong 20 years in.

P.S. I do think things are getting more casual in nature in the corporate world because of companies like Google, Facebook, etc being successful and yet still having a very casual culture. Perhaps in time, even visible tats will be part of this. Hell, I noticed one of our client visitors looks more like a guy in a local rock band than an executive. He's young and intelligent and still looks professional but he's got a more modern relaxed look to him with longer hair and a backpack instead of a briefcase.

Ive always had negative comments about showing mine, in all the places ive worked, so i mainly cover then up, except on dress down fridays where we can wear what we want. I judge it as being professional and respecting the place of work really, if anyone has a problem with it, or gives me a funny look in the corridor then thats their problem and narrowminded opinion. Nothing for me to concern myself with. As long as i do my job and i do it damned well which reflects in my 6 month and annual reviews, so the folks that have issues can go stick it! Hahaha

Btw i have a full chest peice, full sleeve, both calves are covered and lots of other little tattoos that are visible (knuckles and back of neck, behind ears) so im quite covered.