EN3220 Project Part 1 Meleetch

Tattoos or Body Piercing – Are they acceptable in the workplace?

ITT Technical Institute, Hanover MD
Mathew Leetch
EN3220
Written Analysis
April 1, 2015
Tattoos or Body Piercing
So what are the origins of tattoos and body piercing? In some cultures, they are a badge of honor or a representation of their beliefs. For others in the past it was a mark of possession. During WWII, the Germans tattooed each concentration camp prisoner. However, as the world changes, tattoos and body piercing are being more and more accepted in the workplace. Something like a quarter of all Americans currently have tattoos. That number goes up among younger generations. Among my peers at work under the age of 30, 75% have tattoos. This does not even take into account how many have piercings. However, only a small percentage of the hiring workforce has tattoos and/or piercings as well. This directly implies that hiring managers find tattoos to be offensive and will associate tattoos with nefarious groups like gangs and bikers, or others that are perceived to be outside the social norm. In my experience, it is best to NOT judge a book by its cover.
At work I manage 25 people. My work is considered upper management and is usually professional in nature. I routinely interview applicants for positions that will put the applicants in front of senior managers and the equivalent of CEO’s. Unfortunately I have to assess how these applicants present themselves. Are they professional in appearance? Would I put them in front of a TV camera and be satisfied that the way they present themselves represents my business? I am usually open minded and willing to accept a person as they are. My military background ensured that I was around a lot of tattoos. It seems like the last 20 years has been a revolution in tattooing. It seems to be the “in” thing. Unfortunately my superiors are not always as open and willing to accepting people as they appear. Thankfully most people I interview for jobs present well, and know that I am looking for people with a professional appearance. It amazes me what a person will do to cover up tattoos.
Having spent 20 years in the navy, I saw many tattoos. For a few years, any tattoos that were larger than my hand, or could not be covered by standard clothing were not allowed. This made many older sailors apply for a waiver for all their previous work. For many sailors, tattoos were a special way to express his or her self in an artistic way, or to show where they had been in the world. So after a few years, this policy was re-written and was not as restrictive. But let’s be realistic, did having a tattoo make one sailor less prepared to fight the ship? I don’t think so.
One awesome article I found online was about Volkswagen. Their hiring managers don't make any hiring decisions based on physical appearance. In fact their policy is that in the event that someone complained about another employee's visible tattoos that they found offensive or harassing, it would addressed on a case-by-case basis and that they haven’t had such a case yet.
So the other side of this argument could be about a person working customer service. If a person’s job is customer service, and they actually work with people in person, then having an unprofessional appearance is not a good thing. If their face is tattooed up and they have piercings in unconventional places, then yes, that might not be a great fit when working with the public. On the flip side, if someone is working in a corporate office environment then yes the tattoo and/or piercing shouldn’t be an issue. Ultimately it should be about how professional the person appears to be, and the job they perform.
As I stated earlier, tattoos and body piercings have become more of a way of life. Having lived in many military bases, tattoos and piercings are something of the norm. However, if you move to a more conservative city, tattoos and piercings may not be acceptable. I personally do not have either a tattoo or a piercing. I have contemplated it for many years. Ultimately I can’t decide what to get, and where to put it. Also, I don’t want to get something that “everybody else has”. Who knows what happens long term. Are social norms going to change in another 20 years? Will I not like what I get? What happens then? So in conclusion, when looking at someone and not giving them a chance due to their tattoos you need to ask yourself. Am I throwing away a chance to have a great employee working for my company? Personal appearance shouldn’t matter, as long as the job gets done.