Do tattoos belong to the workplace?
Tattooing has been practiced for centuries by numerous cultures around the world. Ancient Egyptian mummies with tattoos have been excavated and Julius Caesar described tattooed Germanic tribes in 54 BC. C. Some cultures believe that tattoos have magical qualities and are adorned for protection or good luck. In many societies, both ancient and modern, getting a tattoo represents a rite of passage.
Today, tattoos have become commonplace and are a prominent part of our mainstream culture. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than 35% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 have one or more tattoos. One in eight adult Americans has a tattoo, and the percentage is even higher in Britain and Australia. Popular shows like LA Ink and Miami Ink have brought tattoo culture to a mass audience.
Despite all these statistics, tattoos are still not commonly accepted in the workplace. Many employers do not allow visible tattoos. This means that millions of people around the world struggle to hide their body art on a daily basis. Employees working in fields such as healthcare, shipping, banking, retail, and the service sector often have to support two people to keep their jobs. One person represents the professional image they should project and the other person represents who they really are.
A dual identity wouldn’t be necessary if tattoos weren’t banned in many corporate and institutional settings. Respected brands such as Starbucks, Office Depot, Panera Bread, The Body Shop, and AMC Theaters enforce a no-visible tattoo policy in the workplace. Freedom of speech is protected in the US by the First Amendment, but this does not apply in the workplace. According to Burleson Consulting, employers have the right to discriminate what are considered “optional” appearance traits. However, not all major employers restrict or prohibit tattoos in the workplace. Ford Motor Company, Boeing, Subway and Wal-Mart allow employees to display “non-offensive” tattoos while on the job. This allows some interpretation of what exactly a “non-offensive” tattoo is.
While the general trend may be shifting towards more relaxed tattoo policies, there are still pockets of conservatism that crop up from time to time. Sky News reports that a large number of restaurants and hotels in Sydney, Australia now ban customers with tattoos. All visible body art must be covered at all times in many popular Sydney restaurants and watering holes. Even a restaurant owner is quoted as saying the policy is designed to “keep the common rabble out.”
Entire industries have sprung up due to the prejudice associated with tattoos. Tattoo cover up sleeves, makeup concealer, skin toned body tape, and laser tattoo removal are businesses that are based on the need to cover up or get rid of tattoos. Laser removal has a reputation for being expensive and painful. Up to ten treatments may be needed to remove darker tattoos with a laser.
It is estimated that more than 100 million people around the world have one or more tattoos. Much of the prejudice associated with tattoos comes from a lack of understanding. Most people with body art just express themselves. The tattoo industry also employs some of the most talented artists working today and their canvas is the human body. As long as people judge others by their appearance, it will be necessary for some to maintain a dual identity in order to be accepted and function in the wider society. Only time will tell if tattoos are commonly accepted in the workplace.