tattoos and work

[optionsdude]

I personally don't have any tattoos but lot of people were I work do. Most of these people have had them for a long time,some 20+ years. A new updated appearance policy was posted recently stating that tattoos could not be visible,and said if you have any and were considering going into management don't even bother. To me this is discrimination and as a union steward I will do anything I can to defend my co-workers on this issue. As far as I know there have been no complaints about our employees and management has not addressed the issue as of yet, they just posted the policy last week. I see alot of your avatars have tatts and if any of you have any experience on this issue I would like to hear it. Especially legal cases. If they start to enforce this I'm going to need lots of ammo especially if this goes to the panel or arbitration.

Thanks

[ironbeck]

i have a few....they are old, wish I had never got any due to the stigma and truly believe they in someway have held my progress.

[Euroholic]

Tattoo's are sik i got a couple.. I work in construction/mining and use to be in the army. Probbaly the two highest tattoo industries... Only those lazy people that sit on desks in offices all day hate tats. Why would having a tat stop promotion? my supervisor earns 300k a year and is covered head to toe. Surely this is some form discrimination.. Having a tattoo does not make you a bad person...

[panntastic]

I personally don't have any tattoos but lot of people were I work do. Most of these people have had them for a long time,some 20+ years. A new updated appearance policy was posted recently stating that tattoos could not be visible,and said if you have any and were considering going into management don't even bother. To me this is discrimination and as a union steward I will do anything I can to defend my co-workers on this issue. As far as I know there have been no complaints about our employees and management has not addressed the issue as of yet, they just posted the policy last week. I see alot of your avatars have tatts and if any of you have any experience on this issue I would like to hear it. Especially legal cases. If they start to enforce this I'm going to need lots of ammo especially if this goes to the panel or arbitration.

Thanks

What line of work are you in though.
When I was doing executive protection I couldn't have any tattoos visible at any time but then that was a boring job standing in halls and corridors
Since I have had my hands covered and I am considering my throat next.

I'm sure they can't discriminate against existing work though

[Lunk1]

Where I work did the same thing a year ago after a cpl guys went and got full sleeves. The policy is directed at any new art work or new employee...not those who had work before the policy. It now requires the tatts to be covered during certain types of work

[marcus300]

There should be no discrimination in the work place what so ever, but does it go on YES

[XstabberX]

It seems like current employees should be grandfathered in. It also depends on state laws and where I live is a "right to work state" so check the laws. I work for a worldwide company that everyone knows the name of and I'm sleeved out and hand done. A bunch o our supervisors have neck tattoos also. I would google it up and focus on what state laws are.

[optionsdude]

I really don't think it will go anywhere and I live in the most liberal state there is. Some of our supervisors have tatts as well,I just like to be prepared in case some overzealous dip$hit decides to make a big deal out of it.
Panntastic I work in the transportation industry so these guys and gals do deal with the public,but no complaints have ever been made.
Ironbeck my grandpa had an eagle on his arm from WW1 and when I was 12 he asked me if I could tell what it was. I had no idea it was a big blob by then and I said no. He smiled and said let that be a lesson to you don't get any tattoos they'll just end up looking like this. So it stuck and I never got one,well that and I'm a sissy when it comes to pain.

[steroid.com 1]

Hell, I am 52 and a c-level executive in a software firm working for some of the largest corps in the nation and I started my work at 50 and am almost completed me left half sleeve. I didn't go all the way to the elbow as I can still wear a golf shirts and have complete privacy.

It's weird, socially tattoos are much more acceptable today without the stigma they once had (I attribute pro athletes and Tattoo TV shows for a lot of that) but at the work front they discriminate.

Go figure...

[DNoMac]

If it's a private company, I don't think there is much recourse against them (but I am not 100% sure). I work a desk job at a large corporation and can say that I think the stigma is not bad at all. I know plenty of people who have exposed tattoos who work there. I remember seeing one guy who appeared to be an executive and dressed very professionally with tribal tattoos peaking out of the cuffs of his shirt. I later found out he was a former Army ranger officer. Badass.

[austinite]

I hire tatted folks all the time. The only time I won't is if they would be dealing with customers AND have profanity in visible areas. Not good for business.

[MuscleInk]

I love my ink and am planning a lot more. I agree with Gdevine about social acceptance, but as a CEO and business owner, I have to appreciate that despite changes in the social climate, in many business settings, your appearance makes a first impression and that first impression can be lasting with far reaching implications. Every business environment has its own levels of conduct and dress code to some degree. In medical settings, people expect a professionally dressed, well groomed provider. I know many docs with tats, but like myself, keep them covered during working hours. My own company has a specific dress code that also covers body art. I realize there may be a fine line between discrimination and individual's rights, but a company must also exercise a degree of etiquette that is expected within the industry it functions.

A few of my nurses have seen my ink when I've run into them in the weekend and I'm dressed in jeans and affliction gear. They usually do a double take when they see me, followed by "OMG!!!!"

MuscleInk

[gearbox]

They say OMG because they didn't realize how small your arms are!

[Hydroponics]

Im gettin a degree in may for health service admin and a minor cerificte in addiction studies... I plan on gettin a native american armband where the feathers mightly Slightly stick out if i wear a polo with shorter sleeves... Do you think this is a problem? I can always wear longer sleeve golf shirts and i live in MI so most of the year i wear long sleeve anyways, any thougts/advice

[MuscleInk]

They say OMG because they didn't realize how small your arms are!

I'll let that comment slide only because it came from you!

MuscleInk

[MuscleInk]

Im gettin a degree in may for health service admin and a minor cerificte in addiction studies... I plan on gettin a native american armband where the feathers mightly Slightly stick out if i wear a polo with shorter sleeves... Do you think this is a problem? I can always wear longer sleeve golf shirts and i live in MI so most of the year i wear long sleeve anyways, any thougts/advice

When I first started getting inked, I said I'd never go below the elbow and would only do my upper arms. Now I have two full sleeves, my upper back and one calf and am planning a chest plate and full back piece.

If you go below the short sleeve line, keep in mind some employers may frown upon it and you would need to always wear long sleeves in the work place.

MuscleInk

[steroid.com 1]

I love my ink and am planning a lot more. I agree with Gdevine about social acceptance, but as a CEO and business owner, I have to appreciate that despite changes in the social climate, in many business settings, your appearance makes a first impression and that first impression can be lasting with far reaching implications. Every business environment has its own levels of conduct and dress code to some degree. In medical settings, people expect a professionally dressed, well groomed provider. I know many docs with tats, but like myself, keep them covered during working hours. My own company has a specific dress code that also covers body art. I realize there may be a fine line between discrimination and individual's rights, but a company must also exercise a degree of etiquette that is expected within the industry it functions.

A few of my nurses have seen my ink when I've run into them in the weekend and I'm dressed in jeans and affliction gear. They usually do a double take when they see me, followed by "OMG!!!!"

MuscleInk

^^^^I couldn't have said it better, this is so well articulated.

Like MuscleInk, almost no one I work with, including my clients, know I am heavily inked. And when they eventually do see it they can't believe it because I simply don't fit the "stereotypical profile" for a man who gets tattooed.

For me, personally, I was infatuated with Tattooing since I was a teenager but never acted on the urge. One of my dearest and best friends is an internationally known Tattooist and never once did he put pressure on me to get inked in over 12 years of close friendship.

It was only when I realized when a close friend of mine almost died of cancer that I realized how short our life is here and the need to live it to the fullest because you never know when it's going to end.

So, I pull the trigger on my two half sleeves...and guess what...it's one of the most fulfilling and most liberating things I've ever done in my life...ever!!!

I've won awards with my ink, I got closer to the inked community, I love the lifestyle and yet I am about as 180 degrees from it personally then anyone could be.

It's a personal choice for sure, and ink is not for everyone; but for me, a man with a Masters' degree and highly compensated for what I do for a living, it was a major decision and one that I totally thought out before the first needle hit my skin.

For me, I did it right, I have my privacy when I need it...and I can flaunt it when I want to...best of both worlds.

Now when I retire...damn skippy I am going to get fully sleeved

[steroid.com 1]

There's an old saying in the Tattoo world:

"Above the elbow it's your business...below the elbow, it's everyone's business".

Pretty much sums it up.

[MuscleInk]

There's an old saying in the Tattoo world:

"Above the elbow it's your business...below the elbow, it's everyone's business".

Pretty much sums it up.

Well said! I like that phrase.

MuscleInk

[auswest]

I have 1 arm sleeved, and it doesn't bother me.

These company's better watch out, with the growing popularity of tattoos today they will have no one working for them.
Tattoos are no longer what they used to be back in the day.. Some people need to wake up to the 21st century.

In saying that I still see neck tattoos and knuckles/hand tattoos a bit much... :/ so kind of contradictory there. It's just it always appears the same type/group of people get tattoos there. I'm sure they're really nice people though lol
Each to their own.

[MuscleInk]

I have 1 arm sleeved, and it doesn't bother me.

These company's better watch out, with the growing popularity of tattoos today they will have no one working for them.
Tattoos are no longer what they used to be back in the day.. Some people need to wake up to the 21st century.

In saying that I still see neck tattoos and knuckles/hand tattoos a bit much... :/ so kind of contradictory there. It's just it always appears the same type/group of people get tattoos there. I'm sure they're really nice people though lol
Each to their own.

Lol....your last paragraph sort of confirms what I was implying earlier. I agree, tattoos are becoming less taboo and more acceptable but I believe there is still a stigmata associated with them. Right or wrong, I believe some people still associate tattoos with a certain type of individual: rebellious trouble makers who go against social norms. I disagree with this as clearly there are many respectable people with ink who don't fit into that category. As the number of people with ink grows, there will be a further paradigm shift and the traditional views will (hopefully) give way to greater acceptance.

I personally would love to have ink on my neck or my knuckles but that won't likely happen unless I trade my profession for something else (own a tattoo shop perhaps? Lol).

MuscleInk

[moseley2004]

It's true Im a business owner and have one full sleeve and more on my forearm and people give funny looks. Once I speak to them and show some professionalism things change. Not always though

[cornfedboy2000]

I suppose if the position being filled is a face to face sales postition where the salesperson would be meeting with many different types of clientele then I could understand shying away from a full sleeve or "public" tat. Pesonally I have 2 tats that are on my forearms, but I am a Millwright, so it's not that big of a deal. I know one of my son's doctors has his entire back inked with a gaurdian angel, but you would never know if he didn't take his shirt off. I think the stigma has lessened as of late, but some fields will always shy away from them.

[Lunk1]

When I first started getting inked, I said I'd never go below the elbow and would only do my upper arms. Now I have two full sleeves, my upper back and one calf and am planning a chest plate and full back piece.

If you go below the short sleeve line, keep in mind some employers may frown upon it and you would need to always wear long sleeves in the work place.

MuscleInk

Why do you always fail to mention your tramp stamp??

[MuscleInk]

Why do you always fail to mention your tramp stamp??

You mean the one that says, "Lunk wants to fill my trunk"?

I thought that was supposed to be our secret.

MuscleInk

[bikeral]

I have tats down close to my wrists. Work as an IT director at a hospital. I always wear long sleeve shirt and never had an issue. Some people at work have seen my tats including my boss and guys that report to me. In this field I do not think it would be appropriate for me to go into meetings with a short sleeve shirt. Don't think I would ever go above the neckline or do my hands. I like to be able to cover in certain situations although I rarely do outside work.

[optionsdude]

Our guys do deal with the public but as stated by most of you tattoos are becoming more prevalent. I would say probably 30-40% of management we have now have visible tattoos. So far no one has said anything but the notice is still posted. And I don't think it would matter if you had one or not and decided to go into management because no one has even tried in probably 5+ years, except some part timers who didn't want to wait to go full time hourly. It's more of a lateral move you lose your vacations for a year and make about 15-20 grand less the first few years. Not to mention you have to work until your 65 if you want your full management pension,and their medical plan sucks.

[oatmeal69]

Not much sympathy here... These are all things a person is obliged to think about BEFORE tattooing.
If you're the Union Steward and representing Union members it's one thing, but isn't management non-union? If so, you aren't going to be very effective.

[optionsdude]

I'm talking about representing my members not management. I could care less about them,just like the tattoos that's the path they chose.

[canesfan804]

This is why I have kept all my ink above the elbow. Its not right to discriminate because of ink but it happens. If someone wants the management position that bad go get lazer removal.

[oatmeal69]

I worked at a particularly contentious company and was both Union and non for approximate equal time...
Anyhow, I'd say that for union members if it hasn't been negotiated and approved as a part of your labor contract it's a slam dunk to get it rescinded for union employees. However, if a union member aspires to management - I.E. NON union, the company can hire whomever they please and change that at any time for any or no reason.

[oatmeal69]

I had a TINY tattoo on my hand which I had removed. It took no less than 10 separate treatments over the course of a year and was hugely expensive. Tattoos are for life. Choose wisely.