Has your tattoo affected your ability to get a job, stay in one or caused problems at work? When is it acceptable or unacceptable for you to display it?

 

This issue comes up regularly and can lead to heated debate. It raises interesting cultural questions about power, hierarchy, values, personal identity, generational perspectives, management style, HR policy and even legislation.

 

When I was growing up as a teenager in the 1970s, I tended to see tattoos mainly on ex-prisoners, Hell’s Angels, seamen (think Popeye) and construction workers (oh, and Santa in the toy store). Shocking to admit that, I know!

 

The world has changed. On his 50th birthday, my brother celebrated by covering himself with the tattoos he’d always wanted. They now poke out of his shirt collar and cuffs. He’s a Head of Department in an inner city school.

 

Body art and expressing personal identity go beyond tattoos. At 16, my youngest daughter had a ring through her ear, a plug with a large hole in her lobe and a stud through her nose. She is now 19, some of the jewellery has disappeared and she is facing the world of work. She knows her own mind too…

 

Why would I want to join a company that didn’t accept me for who I am?

 

Here are a couple of contrasting stories. A real estate company in New York had an original idea to marry employee engagement with brand awareness. Employees were offered a 15% pay rise if they agreed to have a tattoo of the company logo! Check out the video from one of the employees on why he took up the offer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compare that with a story from my own experience working with a public sector organisation in the UK. Amy is in her mid-20s and has a symbol tattooed on her chest just below her neck. It is visible if she wears an open neck top. Her job involves meeting potential business clients at all levels.  She is performing well and is meeting targets. A senior executive of the organisation (in her 60s) observed to the HR Director (in her 40s) that this was unacceptable.

 

• What would you do if you were the HR Director?

• How would you respond if you were Amy and you were told about the exec’s view?

 

If you have a tattoo, what’s your experience in a job, at job interviews, work experience, internships? How has it affected your ability to get a job, if at all?

 

What do you think about tattoos and the workplace in 2014?