Tattoo's and the Workplace.

[Converge]

As the title suggests...

Do you guys think that tattoo's effect peoples opinion of someone and how they deal with them in a work environment?

Surely if you had say, an armful of tattoo's and they didnt hire you or they fired you based on those grounds, thats wrong?

Just thought about this, as you cant always wear a long sleeve shirt every single time your at work, i.e. dress down day etc.

I was thinking of getting another arm tattoo you see and my friend was talking to me about it and thought that fair enough 1, but 2 may not help your cause in a job situation, i personally think thats a load of rubbish.

Any opinions, or insights?

 

[G|mp]

The company i work for wont let your wear short sleeve shirts if you have tats on your forearms

Dependsif your customer facing or not i suppose

 

[Converge]

I can see that it may not generate a good image for a company sure, but isnt that a little... well... old fashioned these days.
I can see the argument for and against though, of course.

 

[Rotty]

Surely if you had say, an armful of tattoo's and they didnt hire you or they fired you based on those grounds, thats wrong?

no more than if you turned up for an interview in a football shirt, you have created an impression

I wouldn't employ someone covered in tattoos, you can agree or not but that is what would happen

 

[VeNT]

depends on that tattoos

 

[Converge]

no more than if you turned up for an interview in a football shirt, you have created an impression

I wouldn't employ someone covered in tattoos, you can agree or not but that is what would happen

That's a good way of putting it

 

[Azagoth]

If you're already working there with a tattoo then surely they can't fire you for having another one done. Not exactly the same, but I had problems with an old boss of mine who was giving me grief for having long hair. I just simply said to him that I'd quite happily cut it if he asked all the women do it too. Didn't hear another word about it.

 

[Neoni]

there more accepted now, i get a lot of chat over my tattoos, i work behind a hotel bar which is very posh they dont mind me showing them as there not offensive.

 

[Neoni]

If you're already working there with a tattoo then surely they can't fire you for having another one done. Not exactly the same, but I had problems with an old boss of mine who was giving me grief for having long hair. I just simply said to him that I'd quite happily cut it if he asked all the women do it too. Didn't hear another word about it.

they wouldnt fire you over a tattoo, well they would but they would say something else.

 

[Azagoth]

they wouldnt fire you over a tattoo, well they would but they would say something else.

Ah yes, I forgot about the old "your work's not up to standard" routine.

 

[MNuTz]

no more than if you turned up for an interview in a football shirt, you have created an impression

I wouldn't employ someone covered in tattoos, you can agree or not but that is what would happen

So if i turned up for a job interview wearing my nice shirt and tie, have all the experience/qualifications and we get along well and you end up offering me the job. Would you then change your mind if a week into my job you found out i had tats?

I never thought you would have been so closed minded to judge people who had tats, you always come across like a top bloke who's head is screwed on right.

Ive worked in an office environment with people who had 'prison break' style tats, full arms and chest/back. I had no idea for the first 3 months until i saw him out one night. I want both arms and back doing over the next few years, however, none will be visible once i have a shirt on.

 

[Neoni]

So if i turned up for a job interview wearing my nice shirt and tie, have all the experience/qualifications and we get along well and you end up offering me the job. Would you then change your mind if a week into my job you found out i had tats?

I never thought you would have been so closed minded to judge people who had tats, you always come across like a top bloke who's head is screwed on right.

Ive worked in an office environment with people who had 'prison break' style tats, full arms and chest/back. I had no idea for the first 3 months until i saw him out one night. I want both arms and back doing over the next few years, however, none will be visible once i have a shirt on.

see ill be eventually having my arm finished, which is pretty closely done, and then my legs. and then eventually ill be having very public skin done, ie. hands its a big decision im going to think about it for a very long time.. until im fully decided.

 

[penski]

I used to work in a client-facing role, dealing with my employer's top 500 customers in both technical and sales roles...

...the number of board members, VPs, directors et cetera whom I met and had chats with about ink and piercings was surprising...

anyhoo, I've never covered up ink for an employer. one sales director said "I don't like your wrist tattoos...", I asked him if we could continue the conversation with an HR manager present, he agreed then backed down completely when I told him in front of HR that, as a bible quotation, they constituted "an important part of my beliefs" and asked him if this was a deliberate attack on me based on my beliefs, and if he was also going to ban crosses, religious jewelery et cetera...

*n

 

[GFX707]

If you're already working there with a tattoo then surely they can't fire you for having another one done. Not exactly the same, but I had problems with an old boss of mine who was giving me grief for having long hair. I just simply said to him that I'd quite happily cut it if he asked all the women do it too. Didn't hear another word about it.

Good for you


Now if only the armed forces would apply similar standards of equality.

 

[panthro]

Ive always wanted tattoos, but I know for a fact that people will judge me differently if I was to get them.

I wont get onto the board of directors with an armful of tattoos. fact.

 

[ChrisJSY]

As long as I keep them away from view whilst at work I will get as many as I want and it should not have come up to anyone else wether I am allowed to or not in the workplace, it's non of their business if it will never see the light of day when I am there.

The only time they should have a say if it became visible, if it was on my neck, or hands, or lower arm (unless I always wear a long sleeved shirt, which I have done anyway), or any other visible place.

It's quite appaling how people react.
Most of the people I know go out drinking and or smoke, you don't see me telling them it's bad for their health?
+ they do it outside of the work place, infact, I'm pretty sure people take These things called "smoke breaks" during work.


So, those kinds of people need to learn to stop being so arrogant and realise it is none of their business.

Alternatively if its because they care then it's appreciated, but I've thought through my decisions for many years before getting a tattoo.

If I got fired because of a tattoo that wasn't visible, like the one on my upper right arm which you will NOT see at my workplace... or because of the ones im getting in other areas, with the same outcome...
I wouldn't want to work at that place any longer if they had those thoughts.

I've already walked out of a job for completly different reasons (blackmail) and i'd do it again, people can't control me. People can't control you.


Just, work things out, as long as you don't effect their business, it should be fine.


If you have to work in a naturist camp then you're buggered!

 

[Dark_Injection]

I would never get them on my arms, or well nothing lower than the elbow.

But this is just personal choice, and i dont really judge people who do get them.

I would how ever love to have one on my back on my shoulders as i am pretty big built.

My mother on the other hand had one her on arm, and i went compltly off on one at her for weeks. Looks disgusting on women.

But ye in the office i would say fair enough, but when you are serving people in say a coffee shop who are mainly older customers, the shop generally doesnt like it. Also at my work no piercings are aloud, but that is more due to health and safety.

 

[Behemoth]

It's pretty much the same where I work, if you have a tatt or two it as to be covered up, which I think is fair enough really.

What annoys me though,well got me annoyed was that mangement had a dig at me for not having a shave one day, it wasn't overly bad, certainly only about one days worth of growth, and they told me how it was a disiplinary situation if I came in like it again.

When I pointed out that young Barry, who doesn't shave is like it all the time, and if they were going to talk giving me wranings had better do the same for him. They soon went silent and left me alone.

He's trying to grow a Gordon Freeman, but on him it just looks like he's got bum fluff round his mouth.

 

[Rotty]

So if i turned up for a job interview wearing my nice shirt and tie, have all the experience/qualifications and we get along well and you end up offering me the job. Would you then change your mind if a week into my job you found out i had tats?

I never thought you would have been so closed minded to judge people who had tats, you always come across like a top bloke who's head is screwed on right.

Ive worked in an office environment with people who had 'prison break' style tats, full arms and chest/back. I had no idea for the first 3 months until i saw him out one night. I want both arms and back doing over the next few years, however, none will be visible once i have a shirt on.

I did say "covered" in tattoos basically meaning visible, in a customer facing role impressions can be made quickly and rightly or wrongly tattoos in the hands, neck face etc would create a bad impression, I have never had to deal with a situation of something like lower arm ones so not sure what I would do if someone with those wore a short sleaved shirt


if my last post came across as a bit harsh then sorry , it was 1am and I had just got in from 5 hours in the pub

 

[Jimbo]

I have tatoos on my forearms and I work for Marks & Spencer and they are fine about it. Never been told to cover up.

Saying that I'm not allways on the shop floor as I work backstage in store operations. However I do lock the doors at the end of the day and deliver stock around the store when the public are around, never had an old biddy die on me from shock of seeing somone with tatoos.

Shouldnt matter really as long as your good at your job and I am.