Premium Essay

Tattoos in the Workplace

In:

Submitted By Moggy2869
Words 847
Pages 4
Tattoos and piercings

Michael Johnson
7/18/13
EN1420

While it is true that many companies forbid visible piercings and tattoos, more and more companies are beginning to broaden their views on visible body modifications. In the past, tattoos were seen as the mark of gangsters and other criminals and sailors, while body piercing was mostly unheard of except the lip plates you read about in National Geographic. Hopefully, the current attitude will change to be more accepting once the generation from the 80's and 90's enter into the power structure. As it stands, the baby boomer generation still holds most of the policy deciding positions within a company. They were brought up on conservative values, which stuck with them even after the 60's and 70's of their youth. Now that their children are coming into the power positions, the restrictions of body art are starting to loosen in the professional world. While certain "extreme" mods are still highly frowned upon, like facial and neck tattoos and large gauge earring and other facial mods, small things like a single lip piercing, tongue piercing, or nose piercing are no longer a deciding factor for HR personnel. There are certain companies that are more lenient than others, such as AT&T. While their salespeople and other face-to-face customer interaction folks, the salesmen and installers, must maintain a clean cut appearance, the call center representatives have virtually no restrictions on visible body mods. Since this is a non customer facing position, the policy doesn't really address body mods, since body mods have no effect on whether or not you can do your job.

That being said, there are other companies, mostly packaging, manufacturing, and food production companies that are concerned about health and safety of both customers and employees. It is understandable that a fast food place does not want

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Tattoos In The Workplace Essay

...Corporate perception, productivity, and morale are improved with employing individuals with tattoos. Tattoos have their place in every culture including 21st century America. The notion of only bikers and harlots having tattoos is as outdated as those who use the term ‘harlot’ – today everyone from the leader of the PTA to politicians and CEOs are tattooed. The bias against tattooed individuals extends far beyond name calling, for some individuals it can even extend to the ability to be hired or promoted, however as the number of tattooed individuals increases so does the opportunity for companies to take advantage of the unique benefits that having a tattoo offers, just as many extremely successful companies are realizing. Despite the negative outlook some people have on tattoos in the workplace, employing tattooed individuals improves overall perception of the company, increases...

Words: 1394 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

How Can Tattoos Be Allowed In The Workplace

...The Article Tattoos in the Workplace: How Appearance Policies Affect Healthcare Jobs, is stating the while tattoos become more widely accepted, it is also true that not every employer welcomes their presence. Tattoos are a form of personal expression that is not protected under the First Amendment. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an employer can establish a dress code and appearance policies if they don’t discriminate against a person based on their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. In the healthcare field, facial tattoos along with offensive tattoos that are visible, are often forbidden, even if the hospital has no official policy regarding the subject. Most organization worry about protecting their professional image first. The two main reasons why doctors,...

Words: 461 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Why Tattoos Are Allowed in the Workplace

...For Unit 5, you will submit a final expository essay that blends the viewpoints from Units 3 and 4. Specifically, you will bring together the writing techniques that you have learned throughout the course to compose an expository paper. Exposition is a type of discourse that is used to explain, describe, or inform. In an expository essay, the purpose is to give readers a balanced account of a subject with a neutral, objective tone (usually third-person point of view or voice) and offer the opportunity to incorporate a combination of writing techniques. Your final capstone project will involve integrating both viewpoints of your selected question topic that you worked with in Units 3 and 4. Your expository essay will present both sides of your controversial issue to explain, describe, and inform your audience using an unemotive, neutral, and objective writing style through the use of third-person voice and APA 6th edition format. For this final assignment, you will complete the following: Step 1: Using the thesis statement, outline, and essay that you developed in Unit 3, revise your content. Be sure to incorporate any instructor feedback and suggestions. Step 2: Based on the instructor feedback that you received from Unit 4 (opposing view draft), revise your content. Step 3: Integrate elements from Steps 1 and 2 to create an expository paper that reflects your knowledge of both perspectives of your topic question. You will write a balanced account of your chosen...

Words: 373 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Are Tattoos Appropriate?

...Are tattoos appropriate in the workplace? Tattoos may or may not be appropriated in the workplace, because depending on what or where the tattoo located, there may or may not be an issue for the employers. It depends also on the employers industry and the type of job. Employees should be aware of the issues and the policy that prohibit tattoos. More and more employees are getting tattoos whether they are invisible or visible. There are some workplace can get exposed to a liability if the presence of the tattoo was an issue in making the hiring decision. The key for employers to have written policy that employees should be required to read and sign, about "no visible tattoos." Employers are reluctant to hire those with visible tattoos. Because, some tattoos are distracting, and it very unprofessional. Some people look at your tattoos and judges your appearance and stereotype you. I know applying for a job, you shouldn't have invisible tattoo, and because they might assume that the tattoo have a bad meaning. There shouldn't be any revealing tattoos during interviews. According to an article by Jennifer D. Melville even though tattoos are not allowed in the workplace, you can still have them just more in an unraveling setting. In a professional business setting, tattoos are unacceptable and should not be seen at all. I believe that tattoos do have a meaning when trying to get in a workplace, some peoples that have tattoos whether...

Words: 281 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Tattoo Discrimination

...Can Tattoos Define You? In today’s generation, tattoos are seen more and more as ways to express one’s self and as a trait. By definition, a trait is a distinguishing quality or characteristic that typically belongs to a person. Discrimination in the workplace can be a terrible experience for any worker to have to face. Currently, there are no statutes in the United States that protect trait discrimination or more so, tattoo discrimination unless it is affiliated with religious discrimination. In the workplace, there are plenty of cases of employees being discriminated because of their tattoos. In this society, there are simple revisions we can work towards to help protect a larger population of people because of their tattoos. People should be able to express themselves in a manner of their choosing and should not be penalized for it. Tattoo discrimination lawsuits have only been successful when the clause of Title VII for religious protections has been used. Without the involvement of religious protections, tattoo discrimination has recently fallen under the manifestation of trait discrimination. Trait discrimination has become known as a “second generation” discrimination concept for today’s society. It is when the Title VII typical protected classes are suffering from unfavorable treatment assimilated into the employment policy with stereotypical notions of traits that are culturally or statistically associated with race. A prominent source for trait discrimination...

Words: 2296 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Expository Essay

...Asian-themed tattoos, applied for a position at a conservative company, where he was given a chance for an interview. Upon this interview he decided to wear a long cuffed shirt which he usually would not wear as it ended up showing part of his tattoo on his wrist. He didn’t get the job even though he was more than qualified for the position he had applied for, it could be questioned if the tattoos had anything to do with this decision made by the interviewing company (Pyrillis, 2010). Although people have tattoos and body piercings in a workplace their performance while working should matter not their appearance. With that in mind it can be viewed that tattoos and body piercings in a workplace or during a hiring process can make speculations of unfair judgment against potential employees, since it can be argued that the interviewer bases their opinion of the candidate with the tattoos or piercings work off of their appearance versus their work history, performance, and work ethics. Many persons feel as though it is necessary to cover up any tattoos or piercings while in their workplace. One example would be a survey of two thousand twenty people was taken where sixty eight percent of men and seventy two percent of women felt it necessary to cover up their tattoos and/or piercings in the workplace (Pyrillis, 2010). While on the other side of this argument the remaining people felt that their tattoos and/or piercings should be allowed to be shown in the workplace without any...

Words: 1603 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Tattoo Removal

...Tattoos and Work Etiquette Workplace etiquette can be defined as; a code that governs the expectations of social behavior in a workplace, in a group or a society. Work etiquette tells the individual how to behave when dealing with situations in a working environment however trivial the situation is. (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/business-etiquette.html) Workplace etiquette is the code of comduct for all employees in a work place to abide by. Etiquette is the golden rule describing the manner in which employees should represent themselves and the company at all times. From the way you dress, to the way you speak, to the way you represent the company overall deals with etiquette. Workplace etiquette also deals with the physical appearance of its employees; with things such as tattoos in the workplace, hair color, following company procedures to avoid mistakes, all the way down to the protocol to handling mistakes when they are made and steps to take to avoid these same mistakes in the future. Tattoos have become a common trend amongst the up and coming generations. When deciding to get a tattoo it is always important to choose a place that can easily be covered by clothing. It can be estimated that nearly 25% of the U.S population have some sort of tattoo and almost 50% of that count will eventually want their ink memory removed. Laser tattoo removal techniques have been introduced to removed unwanted body designs, and can eliminate tattoos with minimal side...

Words: 600 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Tattoo

...who have succumbed to the ink bandwagon. Although the current trend of tattoos reflects some pop cultural obsessions with individuality and self- expression, this fad can result in some consequences in terms of health, money, addiction, and workplace regulations. In fact, it seems that everyone in the media as well as in everyday life is sporting tattoos. Although tattoos were previously worn by criminals, soldiers, sailors and gangs, this trend transitioned into a modern fashion statement. Tattoos have transformed from a sign of rebellion to more of a statement of one’s individuality and self- expression. Tattoos have evolved from the typically symbols of crosses, skulls, anchors to more personalized symbols about one’s family, faith, occupation etc. Tattoos are now a trend to personalize and express one’s individuality. They are now gaining popularity among celebrities, athletes and media icons endorse them. There are several reasons for getting tattoos: one of the main reasons for being tattooed is self-expression. People have gone through changes and experience growth; a tattoo is used to symbolize such changes. It is also used as an expression when an idea is conceived or to display an emotion. Peer pressure also strongly contributes to tattoo mania because people want to fit in. Another popular reason for getting tattoo is for cosmetic purposes to cover scars or a birthmark. Tattoos are also worn enhance beauty. There are many people who bore scars and are...

Words: 971 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Workplace Appearance

...approach tattoos in the workplace in three ways. Make them acceptable, cover them up, or try to avoid them as much as possible. In the past, tattoos have had the perception of a “deal breaker” when getting a job, but the Forbes article states that some institutions are seeing past the ink and placing a higher emphasis on talent and performance. Obviously this idea will vary depending on the institution or company, and the policies and cultures the managers want to perpetuate within the company. In the Forbes article, a spokeswoman for Bank of America explains that the company has no policy against tattoos, as it wants to create an environment of diversity. Is this a legitimate belief? Or could it be that typically Bank of America employees wear suits and suit-like attire at work, so their tattoos would most likely be covered anyway? The article states that the medical field still frowns upon tattoos, as it wants to make sure its clients and patients feel as comfortable as possible. For them, this includes having employees cover up any exposed tattoos and display what they consider as professionalism by doing so. At the University of New Mexico, Professor Bruce Potts sports a full tribal tattoo, covering up most of his face. Potts tells Forbes “I haven’t had trouble getting a job because success is all about how one presents him or herself, and doesn’t solely depend on appearance” (Hennessey). Is there a changing of the guard or do most firms not want tattoos in the workplace? I think...

Words: 384 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Expository Essay

...A New Era Arises - But are Tattoos and Piercings Wrong for the Workplace? COM/150 August 14, 2011 Timothy Mcknight Abstract Many people from the age of 40 down have begun a new trend, one that seemed to catch on and run wild with many, including the youth. Take a good look around regardless of the time zone or area code you live in, and you will notice something that I would call a phenomenon among ages. A large number of men, women, boys, and girls will display their meaning of art. A piece of art that symbolizes different meanings to different people. Regardless of the meaning that an individual may have for their body art, there are some employers who do not agree with this type of display of individuality. Are they wrong, or are they right? No matter what anyone may feel about tattoos or body piercings, it is prevalent that they exist among us, and each of us will come face to face with a dilemma that is widespread one day. A team concept should be strongly considered prior to making any drastic decision and placing a tattoo or body piercing in a visible location. Individuality may be preferred but that will only work if you happen to own the company you work for. Otherwise be mindful of this and place your tattoo or body piercing in a discreet location. A New Era Arises - But are Tattoos and Piercings Wrong for the Workplace? Living in an ever-changing era, times are difficult for many to grasp today, especially concerning permanent markings on one’s...

Words: 1704 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Why I Have Witnessed Discrimination In The Workplace

...Discrimination in the workplace is often very common. Even though workplaces say that race, gender and religious beliefs and appearance do not contribute into getting hired, they do. Many employers don’t admit it, but they do judge people by their looks, beliefs(religious or not), and habits. If the employer is racist, he will very easily overlook a person of another ethnicity. When it comes to a job like construction they might not hire a woman because they believe that they cannot work as well as a man can. I have witnessed workplace discrimination in my own job when it comes to gender.. My boss would not hire men , because she believes women know how to “ clean and get things done better. “ Religion is a major factor in a lot of workplace...

Words: 298 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Never Judge a Book by Its Cover

...Judge a Book by its Cover: For many years the public would say that when asked to visualize a person with tattoos their first thoughts would be of criminals, sailors, bikers, or gangsters. Not anymore! Tattoos have become culturally acceptable in today’s society. They have a rich history that dates back to 2000 B.C. before any kind of negative stigma was formed. Because of that stigma, however, tattoos and people with tattoos have developed a bad reputation. Many concerns such as the procedure, health risks and career complications are what have caused some of the negativity towards tattoos. In today’s society these are no longer the case and thus, the art has become mainstream. The act of tattooing started in early civilizations and was most evident in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians’ wall writing showed evidence of the body being used as a canvas around 2000 B.C. (“All About the”). Throughout many different cultures tattoos are used as a part of their religious practices. A tattoo can represent ones authority or a particular responsibility within the practice. However, during biblical times, tattoos were considered an act of mythological worship. Some experts believe that Moses viewed tattoos a little differently, viewing them as a way to commemorate devotion rather than paganism worship. Years later, during the Roman Empire, slaves and criminals began to bare tattoos causing them to develop a negative connotation. They were also used negatively to brand Jews during the Holocaust...

Words: 1813 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Officer Olef Case Summary

...As it comes to unpleasant tattoos or clothing, coming from a managerial perspective these offensive items are easy to take care of. The police community should at least have two uniforms for officers; one should be short sleeves and the other one with long sleeves. Officer Olef tattooed a naked woman and Aryan brotherhood sign on his arms both of those tattoos are offensive. Now it’s time for the management to improvise and look through the policies and fix the situation before it gets out of hand. Throughout this case study we are going to explain why Officer Olef is becoming a problem and also creating an unnecessary situation, disciplinary actions and consequences that can be taken. It’s being considered that Officer Olef is a problem in...

Words: 711 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Discrimination

...Battling Discrimination at Work ​Discrimination at work is unfair. The reason why is because everybody is a human being and everyone should be treated equal. Companies don’t always get the best workers because they tend to pick what they think will work, when in reality if they took the time to study them they would realize how the person works and or who they really are. ​First of all everyone should be treated equal because everyone is the same, some people might be short, others tall, some skinny and some fat but that doesn’t matter because deep inside we are all the same. Also people should be treated equally so that everyone has the chance to do something in life. Some employers hire individuals based on their ability to get a job done. Some employers hire people based on their qualifications and their experiences concerning a particular job. However, there are employers out there that hire someone based purely on how the person looks. Whether it be based on their skin color, age, gender, or sexual orientation. Discrimination is everywhere no matter where we look, but it should stop because it is just not fair, everyone should be treated equal. ​Companies do not always get the best workers, they tend to go for the people who are good looking and people they think will bring more business and costumers. For example a lot of Mexican people come to this country to become successful and do something about their lives, but the system of the united states decides to block them...

Words: 1624 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Test

...stones to using ink on paper to record their different manuscripts and from their manuscripts books were made. Throughout history, ink has been used for many different things. For instance our founding fathers signed the Constitution with ink. Ink symbolizes stability in society; contrary to pencils the ink in a pen is permanent. Ink has been most beneficial to society because it’s the power of the pen that makes society function. For example, ink is used by our government (President, Congressmen) to put laws into effect and also to change laws. Ink is also used to print our daily newspapers, magazines, posters, books etc. Ink has also been beneficial in society within our workplace. For example, before beginning employment in most of our workplace, we are required to have a background check in which sometimes require fingerprinting. Ink is also necessary for fingerprinting. Ink is also essential in the work place for official settings to verify someone’s identity or an official document which requires a wet signature. Another...

Words: 801 - Pages: 4