Tattoo's, Piercings and Employment

mjbmjb

I'm a line manager and I interview people. If I saw visible tattoos or piercings, then my opinion of them would go down, no matter how good they are.

We all have the right to discriminate and form opinion, it's human nature.

I personally don't like this tattoo culture that has swept across Britian like a disease. In fact, I utterly hate it. David Beckham, Robbie Williams, footballers, WWE wrestlers, etc and this obsession with celebrity culture. You see magazine adverts glorifying tattoos. This is what has encouraged the masses to go out and get a tattoo, whereas 10 years ago it was limited to certain types of people. And what is with these footballers? They look like they have something growing up their arms. Is it contagious? Why do people decide to have tattoos in odd places such as above their !!!! crack or on their neck? Strange.

Happy new year folks.

telboyo

I find this whole thread utterly astounding, after all the years of anti discrimination/equality legislation people are still selecting employees using their own values.
When employing someone you should ONLY EVER employ the most qualified for the role. Obviously if you list no tattoos in the qualities needed then you are O.K.

Employers should never treat employees as people, they should treat them as an asset or a machine.
This may sound silly, but think about it, if your business needed a machine you would buy the one that did the job at the price you asked.
It is the same with employees, a good employee comes to work and does what is required of them, they do not bring their personal lives or hobbies to work with them.
If everyone at work took that attitude there would a lot less strife and discrimination in the workplace and even bigots could be able to hire people of different gender religion colour class and tattoo without compromising their own personal standards.
There is no law stating that anyone should like their employer/employee, you just have to treat everyone with respect.

Caroline_a

I don't think it's a discrimination thing - to be honest most people when they are interviewing for a job have an idea in their mind of the sort of person they want - and I do believe this is an unconscious thought for the most part based on their experiences.

There are many people out there who hate any form of tattoo or piercing, hence why it can and possibly will prevent some people getting some jobs. I once interviewed someone for a role with a colleague. She was the least suitable candidate out of the 3 that we saw, based on experience, qualifications and general attitude that came over from the interview. However, she wore a strap top and was covered with tattoos, and the first thing my colleague and I said to each other was 'those tattoos were hideous' - which they were in our eyes.

Now, several points I would say come out of this. Firstly, if you have tattoos, don't go to an interview with them on full display. You may love them, but your interviewer may not, and may indeed be put off what you are saying by not being able to take his or her eyes off your tattoos! We were't put off by the actual tattoos, more that she had made the decision to show them off IYSWIM.

She didnt get the job, not because of the tattoos, but they were definitely off-putting. So why limit your opportunities?

heartbreak_star

You dress smartly for interviews and that is that...generally I'd think that covers most tattoos?

Errata, the top layer of skin on tongue piercings seals over so fast that any reputable piercer will tell you to put a plastic retainers in if you have to remove it for more than a few minutes...I didn't think I needed to (read:forgot to get one!) and thus now I have no piercing!

HBS x

Errata

That's weird HBS. I have a second piercing in one earlobe which I only put an ear ring in on high days and holidays, which can be many weeks apart. It doesn't heal over and I have no problems with it.
Perhaps healing is dependant on which part of the body is pierced?

heartbreak_star

It is I very rarely wear earrings but still can on occasion with little trouble, but mouth and genital piercings are known for healing extremely quickly - all wounds on membranes rather than full skin do.

Apparently the tunnel through my tongue will still be there, it's just the surfaces that join over which is even more crazy

HBS x

Errata

Perhaps Mother Nature knows best

geri1965_2

mjbmjb wrote: »

This is what has encouraged the masses to go out and get a tattoo, whereas 10 years ago it was limited to certain types of people.

What types of people would that be, then? Just curious, as I've had (one) tattoo for 26 years now.

mrcow

AP007 wrote: »

yeah in accounts I have worked with people with tattoos on the back of her neck (she had long hair though) and her tongue was pierced

Working "in accounts" is not the same as being an accountant

Mozette

eamon wrote: »

I had to google "tramp stamp". Bit of an eye opener but I'd never heard of that reference before.

An Americanism. 'Slag Tag' in English.

The Civil Service is pretty good at not worrying about 'alternate' looking people if you're looking for a job as well as body art.

I'm 50ish, have an easily hidable tattoo and pierced ears. My hair has been several colours. I believe grey would be my current natural colour, but I don't intend to check!
I don't judge anyone for whatever they might have, but personally speaking, belly button & tongue piercings make me feel queasy (so I wouldn't have them) and I'm not keen on ear lobe stretching, which also makes me feel a bit odd. The local coffee shop used to make one of their chaps take the ring out of his ear, which made me feel worse than if he kept it in. But to each their own.