Question regarding tattoos at work...

[East Bay Rider]

With office attire becoming more casual how do you feel / what do you perceive regarding visible tattoos in the professional workplace? Outside sales?
Are they (still) frowned upon? Should they be covered?
With more companies adopting a polo shirt uniform with short sleeves, how do you feel about tattoos on your office members, sales staff, executives?

[Boopie]

In professions such as law (especially when going to court) and medicine, they should be covered up. One of our friends is a clothing designer, and has "full sleeves" that he shows every day. Because he owns his own business and is in the creative/fashion industry, that works for him. If he were my accountant doing my taxes, however, that would be odd.

[Cru Jones]

"Polo shirt uniform" and tattoos wouldn't seem to work, but, what do I know? I don't even have casual Fridays in the summer.

[zama]

Bill, I must say the amount of young women who have a lot of tattoo's on feet,neck,behind ears, hands, ankles etc etc mean the horse has bolted cant see a Polo shirt making much difference other than to show males with sleeve tattoo's which I am also seeing on ladies now as well.

I dont care less, they are not for me but hardly a pattern that appears likely to change anytime soon. I would think at a guess 30-50% of females aged 20-35 now have tattoo's, so I think showing them is just part of modern life.

[DCheeta]

Like others have said, it probably depends on the business. In my field (creative/graphics) it's almost better to have tattoos, unkempt hair, etc. Looking too straight-laced makes you seem like a tight-ass. But in other professions, like finance or law, it's maybe better to cover them. But then again, in those professions you'd probably not be wearing short sleeves anyway.

BTW, OP: love the avatar! I've played bass most of my life, and I consider Steve Harris to be my teacher.

[daveathall]

Tattoos are more normal than not where I work.

[mojper]

Dave, where you work? :D

At my work there is no rule, it's acceptable to have tattoo, but most of workers which I know they have it, they try to cover it when they are at work. If I have one, for sure I will not try to cover it.

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by mojper

Dave, where you work? :D

At my work there is no rule, it's acceptable to have tattoo, but most of workers which I know they have it, they try to cover it when they are at work. If I have one, for sure I will not try to cover it.

I'm a British soldier.

[Britexpat76]

Originally Posted by daveathall

I'm a British soldier.

Is it still technically banned to get a tattoo in the Army? I had my 1st two done whilst an apprentice in Chepstow and had to keep them well hidden until they healed.

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by Britexpat76

Is it still technically banned to get a tattoo in the Army? I had my 1st two done whilst an apprentice in Chepstow and had to keep them well hidden until they healed.

I know exactly what you mean. I don't think it wasn't officially banned when I got mine years ago, however, if they went wrong and went septic or infected, the word was that one could be charged with self inflicted wounds, I never saw anyone charged though. I think it's a bit more liberal these days.

[Britexpat76]

Originally Posted by daveathall

the word was that one could be charged with self inflicted wounds

That is as I remember it. No doubt a ploy to keep us from spending a months salary in a weekend being inked from head to toe.

I have had 2 of my 22 year old Army Tattoo's covered, the last one will remain.

[anothernewphone]

I work in a top Fortune 500 company, and visible tattoos are now allowed, as of 2014. I am in sales, and I wear polos with two half sleeves. I'm one of the top sales reps in the area, and my tattoos haven't lost me any big sales! If anything, they've been a conversation piece.

One of my coworkers has his forearms covered in some pretty lousy work, and he wears short sleeves, too. I don't think it's a good look, but I keep my mouth shut. I've got 160+ hours of work, and not all of mine is award winning :)

[Cc1966]

One of my nephews is in Law Enforcement (LE) and has a sleeve tattoo amongst others. In the LE community, the trend is to now hire "non-tattooed" or "visibly non-tattooed" he has told me. He now has to wear long sleeve shirts 24-7. The military (esp. USMC of all branches) is taking on similar regulations cutting down the pool of perspective recruits.

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Cc1966

One of my nephews is in Law Enforcement (LE) and has a sleeve tattoo amongst others. In the LE community, the trend is to now hire "non-tattooed" or "visibly non-tattooed" he has told me. He now has to wear long sleeve shirts 24-7. The military (esp. USMC of all branches) is taking on similar regulations cutting down the pool of perspective recruits.

This is correct where I used to work. No visible tattooes allowed for new hires. If you were already an officer and had them you were grandfathered in. Recent policy change.

[Angrypuppy]

Airline pilot. No visible tattoos allowed. I know one of our guys had 3/4 sleeves and wears long sleeve uniform shirts year round.

Long hair is not allowed either. At my last place we had a guy that had a pony tail that went half way down his back. While at work he coiled it up under a really bad looking wig. It was quite funny to see.

[Boothroyd]

Fortune 1000 company employee, and while their is no ban per se, a new hire candidate would have a very difficult time of it with visible tattoos. One of the many people on the interview process would likely view it as a negative somewhere along the line. I will also say that any tattoo that in any way might make a current employee object due to subject matter of the tattoo is a non-starter. One exception would probably be a service tattoo, like Marines.

Not my rules, just passing along what I know from my organization.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by daveathall

I'm a British soldier.

I thought you worked in a Tattoo Studio.

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by Jocke

I thought you worked in a Tattoo Studio.

[psv]

I don't really see a problem with it in pretty much any profession, but I'm weird that way! :-)

Edit: come to think of it, it matters a bit what type of ink it is. There is difference between high quality artwork vs a bunch of gang or prison tattoos.

[dysondiver]

Originally Posted by Britexpat76

Is it still technically banned to get a tattoo in the Army? I had my 1st two done whilst an apprentice in Chepstow and had to keep them well hidden until they healed.

small world ,,,, 78c ,,, what intake were you ,,,

[Britexpat76]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

small world ,,,, 78c ,,, what intake were you ,,,

86sqd. Packed the bags and headed to Beachley in 92. Good times and memories there - even had someone come visit me here I hadn't seen since we left in 94.


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[dysondiver]

Originally Posted by Britexpat76

86sqd. Packed the bags and headed to Beachley in 92. Good times and memories there - even had someone come visit me here I hadn't seen since we left in 94.


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yep ,,, days done ,,, many a day spent at the old ferry landing , and under the bridge ,, i was back as a passer by a couple of years ago , lots of changes there now ,,, infact it may have been five years ago , its a depot now , no training school

[Britexpat76]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

yep ,,, days done ,,, many a day spent at the old ferry landing , and under the bridge ,, i was back as a passer by a couple of years ago , lots of changes there now ,,, infact it may have been five years ago , its a depot now , no training school

My pals had a reunion there last year but I was stuck here and missed out. Remember it well under the bridge knee deep in mud & shit carrying a f'ing heavy log! I intend on going there at Xmas when I give the Mrs a whistle stop tour of the UK. I keep my eye on the BOBA page on Facebook.


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[dysondiver]

Originally Posted by Britexpat76

My pals had a reunion there last year but I was stuck here and missed out. Remember it well under the bridge knee deep in mud & shit carrying a f'ing heavy log! I intend on going there at Xmas when I give the Mrs a whistle stop tour of the UK. I keep my eye on the BOBA page on Facebook.


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yep , running miles up and down the river mud flats ,,, telegraph pole on shoulders ,, what fun ,,, and dont forget the loop road ,,, thers a blast from the past half way to sedburry ,,, and on the right , i did my tracked vehicle test at the plant shed under the bridge ,,,,

[Britexpat76]

Originally Posted by dysondiver

yep , running miles up and down the river mud flats ,,, telegraph pole on shoulders ,, what fun ,,, and dont forget the loop road ,,, thers a blast from the past half way to sedburry ,,, and on the right , i did my tracked vehicle test at the plant shed under the bridge ,,,,

Nights getting drunk in the peninsular club on camp, ferry boat and castle in chepstow in between numerous jaunts to the Brecon Beacons, Weymouth bridging and the Forest of Dean. Wish I has more pictures like we would have now.


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[anilzat]

Well here I go....

No! Not acceptable at any time.

[FeelingTheBlues]

I may be one of the weirdo's as well but I personally don't have any problem with tattoos, whether they cover two full arms, one back and one leg and a half or simply are a small symbol that is very subtle. Of course, there are tattoos I don't find attractive (the stupid joke ones, the ever so popular tribal bracelet on a bicep and the classic dolphin on the lower back, to name those only) as I usually much prefer the artistic or symbolic ones but it remains a matter of tastes, the fact that someone has a tattoo doesn't bother me. In fact, a lot of people I know who have tattoos are some of the most interesting people I've talked to, therefore I can only imagine how much of a bummer it would have been if I had let myself judge them for the drawings on their bodies and had avoided them.

When it comes to work, I can understand that some people wouldn't want tattooed employees to show them too much in certain fields (even if I don't quite agree with that) but most of the times I don't think it should even be a concern. I've been served very well by a lot of people with tattoos in restaurants and various stores and what they looked like didn't change anything to the way they presented themselves professionally.

[LandLawMan]

I saw a guy wearing a t-shirt that said "tattooed and employed".

In my opinion, the existence of a shirt like that . . . says it all.

[anilzat]

Originally Posted by LandLawMan

I saw a guy wearing a t-shirt that said "tattooed and employed".

In my opinion, the existence of a shirt like that . . . says it all.

What type of employment? I've disowned my son, he looks like a having several tattoos, and the only job he could find that overlooked his tattoos was working in a Ace Hardware store.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by anilzat

What type of employment? I've disowned my son, he looks like a having several tattoos, and the only job he could find that overlooked his tattoos was working in a Ace Hardware store.

Went to a zoo this weekend. It was burning hot so people naturally were dressed in shorts and tee's. It seemed as if every female under 30 was covered in them. Not a few, but covered in them. I find it very strange. The people I deal with in my business wouldn't like to see that. I'm sure I would get phone calls. I would not be able to hire a tattooed person.