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Tattoos and Piercings in the Workplace
Common Sense Advice for Workers with Body Art BY [|ERIKA ICON] [|LOGIN] [|TO SAVE] [|FAVORITES] [|EMAIL TO] [|A FRIEND]

**Tattoos and piercings are becoming** more accepted as a form of art and expression. They are a big part of the cultural landscape in cosmopolitan cities like Los Angeles. To give you an idea of their rise in popularity here are a few figures. Thirty years ago, 1 in 100 people in this country had tattoos. Now 1 in 10 Americans have them, and one-third of those aged 25 to 30 have tattoos. While society is becoming more liberated and expressive, and piercings and tattoos become part of mainstream culture, some employers are still having a hard time wrapping their heads around body art in the workplace.

**What are my rights?**

If your company tells you that you can’t wear piercings or reveal your tattoos at work, they aren’t doing anything illegal. Don’t look to the legal system to protect workers who have body art. The law covers discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, age, nationality, origin and gender. The one exception may be if you’re a Hindu with a nose ring, which could be a religious observation. But there are limits. Your company can’t use tats or piercings as an excuse to fire you. A company can, on the flipside, use it as an excuse not to hire you. I’ll cover more reasons for this later.

Many companies have policies that prohibit tats and piercings that are generally outlined in their handbook and/or employee manual. If the policy is new, it may be given out in memo form (or they may revise the current employee handbook). An employer may change a dress code at any time, with or without warning. To cover their derrières legally, the employer will generally give the new guidelines in written form. If an employer does change the dress code, it must be applicable to all employees.

**What’s all the hoopla?**

In a recent Vault.com survey, employers and employees were asked about tattoos and piercings in the workplace. 60 percent of employers said that they were less likely to hire a candidate with tats or piercings. Their main concern was how the company would be viewed and/or represented. Although the demand for skilled workers is high and filling jobs has been difficult, some managers are willing to pass on workers who they believe could tarnish the company image.

But why do people think less of those with body art or piercings? Some people still associate tattoos with bikers, sailors, criminals, gang members — the pariahs of society. You might see it as self-expression and free speech, but your boss (or potential boss) perceives it as being rebellious, calling attention to yourself, and not being part of the team.

Many employers have a cookie cutter mentality of how their workers should dress and be perceived. Surprisingly, Starbucks, the McDonald’s of the coffee world, doesn’t allow their baristas to show tats or piercings; all tats must be covered up and piercings removed. They’re going for the crisp, clean look and want to let their coffee — rather than the worker’s appearance—do the talking. If you don’t like the Starbucks policy, you might try serving coffee at a smaller, local coffeehouse.

**The times they are a’ changing**

While some employers cringe at bodywork and piercings, others are embracing it. If you choose a position where you don’t interact with clients, or are pursuing an artistic career, you’re more likely not to have a problem at work. Here is the official policy of some employers at the time of this writing:

• The nation’s largest retailer, Walmart, doesn’t allow facial piercings (i.e. eyebrow, nose or lip). They do allow tattoos that aren’t offensive; ‘offensive’ tattoos must be covered up.

• Borders, one of the nation’s largest book sellers, views body art and piercings as something that makes a worker more interesting and a definite plus.

• Ford Motor Company allows everyone from Senior Executives on down to have tattoos and piercings. The only exception is that factory workers are asked to refrain from piercings that could endanger factory settings and/or worker safety.

• Wahoo’s, a California-based chain of fish taco restaurants, allows their employees to strut their tattoos in the restaurants and in the corporate office (specifically graphic designers, and even the owner).

If you have tattoos and piercings how should you handle it at work? Walking into work (or an interview) with a giant dragon on your arm probably isn’t a good idea. Modest tats (ones that can be covered up with your pants or a shirt sleeve and/or are small in size) are probably okay. You can take out some of your earrings if you have multiple piercings and/or a nose or eyebrow ring. Or, go for studs instead of large hoops. The piercing through the septum (the one that looks like a bull ring) and large earplugs aren’t usually well received. Large tats (especially ones on your neck or arms) and tongue piercings seem to concern employers the most.

Many tattoo establishments and artists now have consultations with the customers before tattooing them. They ask them to really think about the ramifications of having a tattoo on the neck and other areas that are exposed. Many younger people don’t think about the consequences or the permanence of tattoos. Better to go with a tattoo on the upper arm that could be covered up by a short-sleeved shirt if necessary.

Another good idea is camouflage. Cover your tats with concealer or band-aids. Women can wear bangles or other large bracelets to cover tats on their wrists and still be quite stylish. You can choose to wear long sleeved shirts or long pants and women can wear thick tights and/or strappy heels to conceal tats on their legs and ankles.

Some piercings can’t be left without jewelry all day long. You can use retainer jewelry, which are just clear pieces of plastic to keep your piercings open, or wear clear or flesh-colored plastic balls on your tongue ring. Another option is to go small; choose a very small silver ball for a nose ring, so it will be a little less conspicuous.

The Vault.com survey revealed that 70 percent of the people with tattoos whom they surveyed concealed them at work, while 30 percent didn’t. A good gauge might be to look around your office (or come into the office to look around before your interview) and see if others are wearing their piercings and not concealing their tats. If there is nothing in your employee manual, you can remove and cover up until you’re sure. Many states are at-will employment and have initial 90-day trial periods, so if you really like your job you must weight the importance of your body art and piercings against continued employment.

**A Word from the Writer**

You may wonder what makes me know so much about this subject. Sure, I did research, but I have also indulged in body art. For the first time in over 10 years, I have been asked to cover up my tats and remove my nose ring. I received a phone call from Human Resources before I even started my current position to let me know that I had already broken the dress code with my nose ring (I covered up the tats on my multiple interviews there).

Although I have a creative position in an agency and have worked at much more conservative places than this (and have been allowed to ‘be myself’), I have to abide by the rules. Why? Because this is one full-time job that I definitely want to keep.

//Erika Icon is a Los Angeles-based writer and regular contributor to// Working World //and// Working Nurse//magazines.//

//Article 2//

= Are tattoos and piercings acceptable in the workplace? =  May 11, 2011 | By JEN JOHNSON In today’s society, the job market has become an area of fierce competition. The smallest details can be the deciding factor between two candidates. These details can be anything from confidence to presentation. Along with a person’s presentation comes his or her appearance. While it might seem that appearance should not matter as long as the candidate is qualified, it does. Being professional and appearing so is essential to being successful. Exposed tattoos and body piercings, aside from the classic ear piercing, are not proper for the job market. Corporate America today does not approve of tattoos for the majority and if so, they must be “non-offensive” according to Burleson Consulting. Along with this, most places discourage dangling earrings along with facial piercings. This article also stated that 42 percent of managers say that their opinions of employees are lowered upon seeing visible tattoos or atypical piercings. With the stiff competition of the job market, having these fashion statements may be the wrong way to seek attention. According to Virginia Tech’s career services center, the appropriate jewelry for a woman in a job interview is a classic watch. Most other places agree to minimize jewelry to a maximum of three items. These generally include two earrings and a necklace. For the workplace and especially job interviews, less is better.  Many jobs require more than just sitting at a desk day after day. They require people to be out in the field interacting with clients and potential clients. Appearing professional is key in securing clients and retaining current clients. Apparent tattoos and facial piercings can come off as not only inappropriate for the setting but as intimidating as well. Keeping a clean palate helps to ensure a more comfortable and relaxed atmosphere in the majority of workplaces. While there are a few jobs where visible tattoos and piercings are appropriate such as tattoo parlors, drinking establishments, and jobs where the employee will rarely be seen, the majority of jobs will not find these items as fitting. Expressing oneself is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution; this right includes one’s ability to plaster tattoos across his or her body accompanied by numerous piercings. In the majority of work places, however, these fashion statements are not appropriate. For most jobs, the employee must appear professional and convey the look desired by the company. Facial piercings and tattoos are not acceptable in these situations and are even banned by many companies. The majority of today’s workplace is not the place to show off one’s latest tattoo or piercing. By BRIANNA ANSELL Rockwood I personally believe that the society itself is drastically changing and that the general public should be more accepting of this indisputable fact. If you think about previous generations and what they might have looked like, I do not believe that they would have been sporting what we universally refer to as tattoos. However, if you walk down the sidewalk today, it’s easy to find a variety of individuals who have covered their bodies in metal piercings and colorful pictures. Therefore, tattoos and piercings should be more accepted in everyday life. I am currently accessorizing with eleven piercings and am in the process of getting tattoos that have symbolic meaning to me. If you disagree with the fact that I support tattoos and piercings in the workplace, that is perfectly fine but, are you saying that I shouldn’t alter my own body with things that I find meaningful? Tattoos are permanent, expensive, and extremely painful, especially when attempting to remove them. If these pieces of art were not accepted in the workplace, every person who plans to obtain a “respectable” job would be forced to remove all of their visible tattoos and piercings. Even though I may not like or agree with certain people’s tattoos, this does not mean that I should have the right to judge them for what they believe. It would be the same concept as religious markings and beliefs; just because I do not practice a specific belief does not mean that I should tell those people what to think. It is just morally wrong to me. Because of my view, I have been asked before if I “would want a tattooed and pierced surgeon operating on me.” Looking at this logically, that tattooed or pierced doctor got the same education as any other certified practitioner in the United States. Thus, just because his or her body has holes or tattoos does not mean that the doctor is not qualified for the medical field. Some of the other points that were brought up in this discussion were: “If the tattoos contained nudity or profanity, are they still acceptable in the workplace?” In my opinion, no. Not to contradict myself, but this would give the person in which was offended a legitimate reason to be upset. Any form of nudity or profanity is not professional in any way, and that’s the way it has always been. Even though I believe that people should be allowed to tattoo their beliefs on themselves, there are still rules and consequences for obvious unprofessionalism. I still believe that it is preposterous for the public to judge others based on tattoos and piercings. Even though some of us are covered in ink and metal jewelry, deep down, we are all still human beings, and should be able to work in the same workplaces as everyone else.
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Article 3

= Laws on Tattoos in the Workplace = by Diane Lynn, Demand Media > >   When a potential employee arrives for an interview decorated with one or more tattoos, you might wonder whether your company policy should define how and where employees can display body art. Having a tattooing policy in your employee handbook will help you clearly define the appropriateness of body art in your organization, while staying within the parameters of the law. == Prevalence == A 2010 Pew Research Center report indicates that about 40 percent of adults between 18 and 29 have one tattoo, and 50 percent of those with tattoos have more than one. Of those who tattoo themselves, 18 percent have more than six tattoos. In comparison, a 2006 report indicated that only 10 percent of adults between 41 and 64 have a tattoo. The prevalence of body art in the workplace makes it necessary to understand whether you can regulate the appearance of tattoos in your organization. == Legal Rulings == Employers' rights take precedent over the employees' desire to display tattoos, according to a September 2008 article on the American Bar Association's website. While the employee may enjoy displaying important images on his body, the courts consistently rule that employers have the right to set boundaries and policies on how much body art an employee may display. In November 2006, the court case Robert v. Ward, heard in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, found that employers can impose dress and appearance policies, including regulating tattoo displays, provided the policies are handled in an equitable fashion. == Policy Development == If you do not already have an appearance policy that includes body tattoos, working with your attorney or human resources professional will help you prepare one that fits your organizational needs. You can limit the number of tattoos that are visible when an employee is working at your organization or ban tattoos, assuming you have a legally defensible business reason to do so. Legitimate reasons to ban or limit tattoos in the workplace include your customers' level of comfort with dealing with tattooed employees and the perception of businesses with which you have professional relationships. == Considerations == Before finalizing your policy, form a small committee that represents the age range and demographic population of your organization to elicit their opinions and make the members feel a part of the decision-making process. Although you can legally ban all tattoos, you should consider allowing exceptions for cultural or religious purposes. If you don't, you could be sued for alleged discrimination. Clearly communicate the final appearance policy to both newly hired and existing employees to avoid confusion or misunderstandings.

//Criteria and characteristics://

//Criteria:// //Needs to be informative and have a purpose// //Needs to be in a professional tone// //Needs to be in paragraph format// //Needs to have credible sources//

//Characteristics:// //Informative// //well thought out// //needs to have a point or a purpose// //needs to "take a side"//

//This article just had a lot of numbers or surveys about who has tattoos and how many. As well as surveys on the opinion of employers and tattoos. almost all of the stats showed that having a visible tattoo hinders your ability to get a job by almost 75 percent. The article says this is because employers still see tattoos as something bikers, or sailors or convicts would have. She did touch on the fact that this is a trending thing and is on the rise with middle class citizens and has increased by 10 times in the past ten years in popularity but despite these changes employers still have a view that tattoos stick out and can damage the relationship with current and future customers. They believe that body art effects the way that a company is seen.//

This article talked about the competitiveness of the work place at this time and age and the effect that tattoos have on your ability to get a job. It talks about how being professional as well as looking professional is key to get a job. This means that visible tattoos are a major hindrance to getting a good successful job. It also talks about how tattoos can come off as inappropriate as well as intimidating to current clients in the work place. also this article addresses hat you cannot be fired for having tattoos but more often than not you can not get hired because of tattoos. The writer then goes on to give her personal opinion on the matter which is that tattoos are a form of art and should not be looked at as a hindrance. They have meaning to the person who gets them. And that if a doctor had tattoos it makes no difference because he still has the same training and schooling as a doctor just has other beliefs or practices when it comes to body art. It just summarizes that tattoos should not be taken badly and they do not effect ones work it is just a way to express yourself

//This article is all about the legal side of tattoos in the work place. This article states that it is legal to make employees cover up tattoos that are visible. This applies because it is part of the dress code and has been informed in legal cases. This is an article informing employers how to establish an appearance policy on tattoos, how to write them or how to update your current dress code rules to include tattoos. It also recommends that you set up a committee to talk about the consequences of banning all tattoos as opposed to letting some go such as religious tattoos.//