Tattoos at the workplace: What’s the big stINK?
You might have seen Ed “The Lizardman” Sprague, a professional human side show act and late-night TV mainstay with full body tattoos, sharpened teeth and even a cosmetically altered lizard tongue. But could Ed strap on a cute blue vest and a “Lizardman” nametag, and get hired as a Wal-Mart greeter?
SnagABlog.com recently received an email from a job seeker named Samantha who was concerned that her exposed tattoos and piercings would prevent her from finding a job. Specifically, she asked about an unnamed national company explicitly stating that applicants with visible tattoos and body piercings wouldn’t be considered for employment.
Can private-sector employer make such demands of potential workers? They can and they do, although more and more employees who feel discriminated against are fighting back, and sometimes winning, especially those who cite religious reasons for their body jewelry and ink. In other words, it’s becoming a gray area.
One reason for this trend is that more Americans are inked up than you might have thought. According to a Pew Research study, more than a third between 18 and 25 have tattoos, with this jumping to 40 percent for those between 26 and 40 years old.
Here are a few tips for making sure your body art doesn’t make an ink blotch on your résumé:
• Do research. In some jobs, such as bartenders and high-tech gigs, you might stick out if you don’t have a tattoo. But others, especially customer service and retail jobs, often frown upon the “I Love Mom” tattoo on your neck. If you’re already employed, ask your boss if getting new body accessories will in any way affect your employment.
• Choose your spots carefully. By getting tattoos in spots easily covered by uniforms and work clothes – such as your back, shoulder and ankle – they’ll likely never be an issue. And even piercings can be obscured by swapping them out for clear or flesh-colored plastic stunt doubles.
Do you have any stories about tattoos or piercings at the workplace? If so, we’d love for you to share them with us. Comment below or send us an email.
