Tattoos and the Workplace

Tattoos are now part of the mainstream culture, but employers still do not like visible tattoos. College students will eventually join the workforce. Some will have tattoos, others will not.

Mike Worthy, 34, is a senior Radio/TV/Film major. He worked at Cumberland County College and has seen his fellow employees have problems because of their tattoos. “I knew someone with flames on his arms. Someone in the administration complained about it, but he did his job,” Mike said, “As long as the tattoo doesn’t affect their work performance or isn’t too offensive. I don’t have a problem. It’s their skin. Let them do what they do.”

Mike said that he understands why some people find certain body art offensive. “Some religious people find tattoos offensive, especially those with a skull or a crucifix.”

Tattoos in Visible Places

Sophomore Radio/TV/Film Major David Ferguson wants a tattoo, even though he does not know what he will get yet. He said, “I am going to get a tattoo on my back and on my shoulder because I was always told if I do get tattoos to get them in places where no one can see them.”

Samantha Smith, a freshman Radio/TV/Film major, said, “I really want a tattoo. It would be nice to have one, probably song lyrics, something that means a lot to me. Not just any random tattoo because it stays with you forever.”

Sam said she wants the tattoo to be on her wrist, even though she said I feel that employers believe it is less professional. “I don’t see why a tattoo should affect their job performance, she said.

What if you were the employer?

Math and Education Major Maya Cato will never get a tattoo. She said, “I won’t get a permanent one because I will get bored with it. I can definitely see myself looking at it a year later and wishing something else was there.”

She said, “In education, tattoos are viewed as exceedingly unprofessional. Most parents don’t like the idea of a teacher with a tattoo. If I were hiring I would be on the look out for gang tattoos. Other than that I could not care less.”

For more information:
Fox News has an article about how some employers are becoming more accepting of tattoos.

AllBusiness.com advises employers how to handle tattoos in the workplace.

WAPT, ABC 16 in Jackson, Mississippi, provides information on the tattoo policies of some major companies, such as Disney.

Need proof employers are more accepting of tattoos? stltoday has some examples.

If you have a tattoo, you might want to join the Facebook group Tattoo Acceptence in the Workplace.