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Visible Tattoos in the Workplace

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Visible Tattoos in the Workplace
Visible Tattoos in the Workplace Stars, angels, and tribal tattoos are just a few of the most popular types of tattoos around today. Placement of tattoos varies from one person to the next. Placement can range from the arm to the leg, even the back is a recent favorite place. Tattoos have become a way for people to express themselves with out saying a word. Tattoos are so popular that one in 10 Americans has a tattoo, compared with one in 100 just three decades earlier. At one time tattoos were reserved for the biker, the rebellious child or the hell raiser, but today that is not the case. Now more people from doctors to stay-at-home parents have tattoos. Now many people in American with tattoos. When one goes to the office, that person in the next cubicle probably has one that no one ever knew about. As tattoos grow into the workplace norm, the problem is that even though not all employers are accepting of visible tattoos on their employees, many companies are adjusting their dress code to address them because tattoos have become more mainstream in today’s society.
Reality shows and celebrities play a key role in the popularity of tattoos in America. Television programs like “Miami Ink” and “Inked” show the increasing popularity to tattoos to more everyday Americans. The tattoo artists on these shows talk to the people getting the tattoos. The people share their personal stories behind the reasons for the tattoos. These shows demonstrate that the types of people who are getting these tattoos range from the business type to the customer service professional. The varying clientele on these shows demonstrates how people are placing tattoos in places on their body with out fear of how it will affect their professional career.
In the past when someone went and received a tattoo, one would put it so it could be hidden by the shirt and tie. Now tattoos are not hidden, they are displayed so everyone can see. Kohl (2008) discusses the results of a Pew Research Center


References: Are Tattoos Here to Stay?. (2001, March 15). Fair Employment Practices Guidelines, Retrieved August 24, 2008, from Business Source Alumni Edition database. Barron, D. (2007, April 15). Fashion victims. Progressive Grocer, 86 (5), 58-58. Retrieved September 27, 2008, from MasterFILE Premier database. Discrimination Laws Under Fire from Tattoos, Piercings, and Makeup. Oct 3, 2006 pNAPR Newswire, p.NA. Retrieved August 24, 2008, from General OneFile Harper, J. (2008, February 7). Beware the art on your sleeve: Employers can judge tattoos, body piercings. Washington Times, A.3. Retrieved August 24, 2008, from Business Dateline database. (Document ID: 1425274411). Kohl, P. (2008). How about those tattoos in the workplace?. Hrtools: Build a better business. Retrieved August 24, 2008, from http://www.hrtools.com/staffing/how_about_those_tattoos_in_the_workplace.aspx Mlodzik, C. (2007). Rules about body art vary from workplace to workplace. WAPT.com. Retrieved August 24, 2008 from http://www.wapt.com/print/14816221/detail.html. Norman, J. (2005). A piercing question in the workplace: to tattoo or not to tattoo. The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service). (July 12, 2005): NA. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Retrieved August 24, 2008 from Gale. Apollo Library. Oldenburg, A. (2005). Tattoo parlors: Indelible reality TV?. [Electronic version] USA Today. Retrieved September 3, 2008, from http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-07-18-tattoo-shows_x.htm Ramachandran, N. (2005). Career spotlight: Tattoos are showing up all over. [Electronic version] U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 2, 2008, from http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech/articles/050702/2career.htm
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