Tips for tattoos and piercings in the suitable working environments

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2014/04/15/tips-for-handling-tattoos-and-piercings-in-the.html?page=all

This article is very good in providing information on handling your tattoos/piercings in the workplace. My opinion is it is very helpful in providing the right details to ensure, being productive while in a working environment. Hopefully anyone looking for ideas on keeping your tattoos/piercings while maintaining their job will look at this article, and get some use out of it.

Discrimination against tattoos and piercings

http://www.careerealism.com/hiring-discrimination-tattoos-piercings/#!bfJQqD

This is a good article as it discusses why people with tattoos and piercings get discriminated. Even though there are no laws the prohibit, managers not hiring individuals who have tattoos and piercings, it is highly likely they are not hired. Mainly the reason is managers don't want the individuals to have a negative influence or be inappropriate to customers. But as the article concludes, maybe in the near future this won't be a problem and a person can be certain he/she won't get hired because of the facial ink markings on their skin. Slowly there has been signs of change, and more people with tattoos/piercings are being hired, but we are not meeting the standards just yet.

Information on Military Tattoo Policy

http://www.beforejoiningthemilitary.com/military-tattoo-policy-and-joining-the-military/

http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2014/01/u-s-military-religious-accommodations-beards-tattoos-piercings/

http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/airforce/a/aftattoo.htm

Just like every other employee, if you want to join the military certain policies must be followed and having tattoos/piercings may be a problem. As these three links provide the information of the areas on the body tattoos are disallowed, it enhances the knowledge of people who have questions if their tattoos are acceptable by the military. It also brings up a significant point, as to how strict companies, government and the military are on tattoos/piercings. Any tattoo that cannot be covered by major areas of clothing like hands, neck, head regions then the military will not enroll you into service. This is just how strict their policy is and how determined they are at being professional. Every employee can relate to these policies, as tattoos/piercings are taken seriously when trying to acquire a job or work in an stabilized environment.

Why are tattoos and piercings not accepted in employment?

http://www.workingworld.com/articles/tattoos-and-piercings-in-the-workplace

Tattoos and piercings are not accepted in a workplace, simply because they want their employees (who represent them) to look professional. It is not illegal for a company to not hire you because you have tattoos and piercings, so they have the authority if willing so to ask you to cover and remove all piercings and tattoos. If they fire you upon refusal, nothing can be done. It is how our society has developed that the public views tattoos as signs of either gang members, bikers, celebrities, athletes or other criminals. Since people have seen, tattoos on the wrongly accused it is only foreseeable that companies don't want people looking like clowns, when on the job. One thing they can't do is fire you because of them, even if they are covered and piercings removed. Although the alternative is not hiring you in the first place. But as times are changing, policies are allowing employees to have tattoos and piercings in the working world. Soon, in the near future maybe it will be a law for no discrimination, and equal rights for an individual with tattoos or piercings. They will have an equal right to obtain the job just like every other candidate, and cannot be judged due to their body appearances. Maybe in the near future ...

Video about tattoos and athletes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2nf18QdsnE

I really like this video, as it the analysts talk about how obtaining tattoos is not a crime, but it should be held back if on a public figure. The problem with this generation is too much ink on their bodies. It influences the younger generation, and sets them up on the wrong paths due to the images they have seen on sports athletes arms, necks etc. Stephan A. Smith made a very good point, as he was all for getting tattoos (not completely against it), but if an individual gets them they should be in places where they can be easily covered. Just like government, company, or high status jobs exposing your tattoos really decrease the chances of obtaining a job. They don't want a person with inked up tattoos representing their company, so no one will be able to judge them for who they really are. He also makes a point on the location of where these athletes get them, noting people getting tattoos on their faces and neck (setting examples like they just came from prison). In my opinion he is right, even though it is their choice employees (especially public figures) should have the right to get tattoos, as long as they can be covered.

Famous athletes with tattoos/piercings

Here are some examples of famous athletes that have displayed their tattoos/piercings in the public eye for many years. Each athlete has different tattoos that are significant in how their appearance/character is represented. This is essentially their job and if they are allowed to have tattoos on national television, then why can't others have the same chance at successfully obtaining a job. My question is if superstars, athletes, celebrities are allowed to have tattoos and the young generation exposed to this, then why can't professionals such as nurses, hospital employees, or government employees be able to show their tattoos to the world?




Dennis Rodman

David Beckham

Colin Kaepernick

Chris Anderson

Finding a job with tattoos

http://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelhennessey/2013/02/27/having-a-tattoo-and-a-job/

http://www.salary.com/how-tattoos-affect-your-career/

http://archive.azcentral.com/business/articles/20120330tattoos-piercings-can-hold-you-back-from-new-job.html

These three links primarily focus on the chances a person has of finding a job once he/she has already gotten tattoos. It also depends on the job of interest, for example a plumber will have more tattoos than a person working for the government. Why? Because a plumber is not in the public's view very often, and their self-image is not so valued as maybe a congressman's. If an individual were to run for office, they likely would not be seen with neck tattoos, or full sleeves while making a public speech (or press conference). Most likely if they do have tattoos it will be covered, and they would be dressed appropriately, due to their reputation. On the other hand, a plumber can be hired no matter what his physical appearance, as long as they can get the job done (nobody cares about their tattoos). These kinds of instances are why statistics are done and people with tattoos are not hired that often or if they are, their jobs are average (not very qualified). Nonetheless, this first link talks about how all of this is changing, and as the world is revolving (people changing their attitudes/views about tattoos), it is much easier for anyone with tattoos to get jobs. Hopefully, the numbers change in the second link and (everyone is equal and there is no discrimination) it is easier for people with tattoos to get jobs.

People's views on tattoos and piercings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYLffDoMa3E

http://www.debate.org/opinions/are-tattoos-negatively-stereotyped-in-the-united-states

These links display how people feel about tattoos and piercings, and how they deal with them in their everyday life. They answer questions about the stereotypes of tattoos and what they mean to society. When asking random people that have tattoos, they explain each tattoo they get is very significant to them, also a way to present modern art. Some had their own opinions, saying it is everyone's individual choice if they wish to get tattoos or piercings. Although they admit they have a passion for their appearances, they do tend to cover up their tattoos as much as possible and remove all piercings when going to work or an interview for a job. They don't want people to judge them, and it was also said it is highly likely their chances of achieving the job decrease if tattoos are being displayed. One person said, the trend is changing though and the upcoming generation has more followers with more and more people getting tattoos, where eventually it will be a norm and nobody will have discrepancies about them.

Which tattoos are suitable for work?

Some employees have tattoo sleeves or tattoos on their legs, basically in wide open areas visible to the human eye. My take on this is, it is ok to have tattoos that are not harmful or disturbing in visible areas. So if someone has their name written on their forearm, or team logos, etc. then it is acceptable in work areas. Like the picture above, this man does not have anything that will make others uncomfortable about his arms, or make others second guess the character of this employee. Therefore he should be allowed to have his shirt sleeves up, and continue to work willingly.

Covering up appearances on employees

I think tattoos and piercings are fine, as long as they are covered up when on the job. It is especially important, when your job deals with regular customers, or patients as they can view your tattoos and piercings. This will lead to mixed views by some people who dislike having people with tattoos and piercings serving them. It also immensely depends on what the tattoo is, or where the piercing is located. If a tattoo of nudity, violence, gang signs, etc. is uncovered and seen, people will fell uncomfortable of that employee. No kids should be exposed to nude women, or skulls while at a dentist's office for example. Also if a piercing is on someone's chin, eyebrows, or huge gauges for the ears then again it will make a lot of people uncomfortable knowing what people have done to themselves (self-image). So in my opinion, I think it is each individuals' choice on what they want done to their bodies. So for example in the picture above, the woman above is properly covering her tattoos and removing her piercings. Nevertheless, when on the job everything should be covered, piercings taken off to ensure the satisfaction of the public.