Tattoo's, Piercings and Employment

sofaloafz

I have to jump into this conversation.

I have 12 tattoos:
2 on back
2 on left forearm
1 on left upper arm
1 inside right wrist
1 inside right forearm
2 on right upper arm
1 on left ankle
1 on left foot
1 inside my bottom lip (yeah, and it says LOL)

I formerly had 4 facial piercings (3 labrets and a bridge)
I have my tongue pierced (no speech impediment here, it's been in for 7 years)
I have my left ear stretched to 8mm and plan to go to 10mm soon

I have a condition where my hair is extremely thin in varying places, so I usually have it looking unkept ALL the time as I am unable to style it properly.

I work on the phones in IT for a multi-national company and I've just had a promotion which I start in around 2 weeks.

I absolutely HATE the fact that people get discriminated for their piercings, tattoos, hair colour, fashion sense, sexuality, race, whatever. If you discriminate because of anything, it is still discrimination. Why should anyone think that I am not going to be good at a job because of all the listed above? I am more than capable than most of my peers! Why should I not be given a chance because I want tattoos that have meanings for me? Why should someone look at me and think I'm going to mug them because I had a piercing in my lip!?

Argghhhh! I hate it so much. I get so passionate in this debate, because I just think that people should get over themselves and live with an open-mind and stop judging people because of the way they look.

I'm getting married this year, and I will be having the majority of my tattoos on show, and I'll have to wear a wig for the special day due to the condition mentioned. It doesn't make me a bad person that I choose to have and show off my body art on my wedding day, or in my day-to-day life. Why would anyone even consider thinking that I am?

We live in the 21st century, why can people not broaden their minds to accept body art and piercings? With the generation that is about at the moment, a lot of them have either or both, so in 5-10 years, a lot more people will be going for jobs with tattoos or piercings.

What makes me laugh is that employers want people with certain skills, yet it seems only a small minority will give people who have those skills and either tattoos or piercings a chance because they still all live in the middle ages.

To not employ someone who has the right set of skills because they have tattoos or piercings is discrimination, and that OFFENDS me.

Yeah, people who are offended by tattoos and piercings; I'm offended by your narrow-mindedness (is that a word?). I'm offended that I can't walk into a shop, or a doctor's surgery or a solicitors and see someone who has body art or piercings.

I don't mind being served by someone who has none, as it is each person's own decision whether to have them or not, and I respect that. But to judge someone who does is what really peevs me off.

Essentially, it is the same as judging someone based on their age, their gender, their sexuality, their race, their religion, their nationality. Companies can be fined for discriminating against all of the above, but not for discriminating against tattoos and/or piercings.

This country really needs to step up, acknowledge and accept that more people will be getting tattoos and/or piercings and that it will become a lot more common in modern society.

I reckon that's about a tenner's-worth there so I'll stop now.

Happy New Year everyone!! :beer: :T

bugslet

Each to their own sofa.

I personally wouldn't employ anyone with facial piercings because they make me feel queasy and I don't want to look at them more than I have to.

I interviewed for the position of manager at our other depot and it came down to two people who were equally well qualified. However, the job required the future employee to work out of the office of our conservative blue chip customer and his tattoos that covered his arms would not have projected a professional image to them and again to me. If he was a driver, then it wouldn't have been an issue.

It may well change in years to come, but at the moment there is still a view that certain types of body art are not professional looking.

You have no choice about the colour of your skin, ethnicity, disability, gender and therefore rightly, discrimination based on the above is illegal. You have a choice to decorate your body or not.

I personally don't judge someone's personality or ability to do a job, but aesthetically it isn't a pleasing look to me.

As I say, each to their own.

ILW

Bottom line is that not having piercings and tattoos is unlikely to disadvantage you in the job market. Having them is.
I would suggest that if someone cannot get a job due to piercings etc they should have benefits cut as it is in effect self inflicted unemployment.

Larry22

Hi all I've been following this thread with great interest, 1 of my sons has tattoos all over, neck,head,ears,arms,hands as well as many over the rest of his body, he also has piercings on nose & ears has massive holes in his ear lobes and has even had his tongue split!
(Weird I know) he is the middle son aged 29. I must admit that he has the best personality of all 3 of my lads, never aggressive, always polite and never has a bad word to say about anyone. He has never been in trouble with the police for anything let alone mugging someone, he has never been unemployed & at one time even worked as a asst manager in a shop. Anyone whoever meets him says what a charming person he is. He is now very successful in the career he was aiming for since being in school.
A well established Tattooist & from feedback 1of the best portrait tattoo artists in Birmingham.
Ps I was one of the people always saying you will never get a job! How wrong and proud am I.

heartbreak_star

MessedUp, I absolutely adore that picture

Sofaloafz, you rock have an amazing wedding and long may your gainful employment and promotions continue!

HBS x

gettingready

I absolutely HATE the fact that people get discriminated for their piercings, tattoos, hair colour, fashion sense, sexuality, race, whatever. If you discriminate because of anything, it is still discrimination.

From your list only sexuality and race people have no control over so yes, that would be true discrimination.

Fashion sense, piercings, tattoos - those are choices people make about themselves so does not fall under discrimination IMHO, sorry.

And no, I would not want to work with or be served by anyone with visible tattoos/piercings, sorry - my choice. Same as you having any of those is your choice.

What next - do not flinch as a naturist waiter serves you food? As if you do you are discriminating against naturists?

Takeaway_Addict

sofaloafz wrote: »

I have to jump into this conversation.

I have 12 tattoos:
2 on back
2 on left forearm
1 on left upper arm
1 inside right wrist
1 inside right forearm
2 on right upper arm
1 on left ankle
1 on left foot
1 inside my bottom lip (yeah, and it says LOL)

I formerly had 4 facial piercings (3 labrets and a bridge)
I have my tongue pierced (no speech impediment here, it's been in for 7 years)
I have my left ear stretched to 8mm and plan to go to 10mm soon

I have a condition where my hair is extremely thin in varying places, so I usually have it looking unkept ALL the time as I am unable to style it properly.

I work on the phones in IT for a multi-national company and I've just had a promotion which I start in around 2 weeks.

I absolutely HATE the fact that people get discriminated for their piercings, tattoos, hair colour, fashion sense, sexuality, race, whatever. If you discriminate because of anything, it is still discrimination. Why should anyone think that I am not going to be good at a job because of all the listed above? I am more than capable than most of my peers! Why should I not be given a chance because I want tattoos that have meanings for me? Why should someone look at me and think I'm going to mug them because I had a piercing in my lip!?

Argghhhh! I hate it so much. I get so passionate in this debate, because I just think that people should get over themselves and live with an open-mind and stop judging people because of the way they look.

I'm getting married this year, and I will be having the majority of my tattoos on show, and I'll have to wear a wig for the special day due to the condition mentioned. It doesn't make me a bad person that I choose to have and show off my body art on my wedding day, or in my day-to-day life. Why would anyone even consider thinking that I am?

We live in the 21st century, why can people not broaden their minds to accept body art and piercings? With the generation that is about at the moment, a lot of them have either or both, so in 5-10 years, a lot more people will be going for jobs with tattoos or piercings.

What makes me laugh is that employers want people with certain skills, yet it seems only a small minority will give people who have those skills and either tattoos or piercings a chance because they still all live in the middle ages.

To not employ someone who has the right set of skills because they have tattoos or piercings is discrimination, and that OFFENDS me.

Yeah, people who are offended by tattoos and piercings; I'm offended by your narrow-mindedness (is that a word?). I'm offended that I can't walk into a shop, or a doctor's surgery or a solicitors and see someone who has body art or piercings.

I don't mind being served by someone who has none, as it is each person's own decision whether to have them or not, and I respect that. But to judge someone who does is what really peevs me off.

Essentially, it is the same as judging someone based on their age, their gender, their sexuality, their race, their religion, their nationality. Companies can be fined for discriminating against all of the above, but not for discriminating against tattoos and/or piercings.

This country really needs to step up, acknowledge and accept that more people will be getting tattoos and/or piercings and that it will become a lot more common in modern society.

I reckon that's about a tenner's-worth there so I'll stop now.

Happy New Year everyone!! :beer: :T

I do find it interesting that you are on here shouting about showing your tattoos off yet you are choosing to discriminate against yourself at your wedding by wearing a wig?

Why are you doing this? Do you think you will be less of a person without the wig on? If you really meant what you said you wouldn't feel the need to wear a wig for the wedding (i.e. hiding something you don't want others to see...a bit like employers and tattoos)

As a side, I have a tattoo and would hire people with tattoos in a customer facing role but I just found your comments really interesting.

AmanitaM

I have a professional customer facing job which involves me managing large amounts of client investment money and a nose piercing with a small diamond stud that I wear all the time. I also have a couple of non lobe ear piercings but they are generally covered by my hair so don't really count.

None of my clients ( including some major corporates) have ever had a problem with it and I have not lost any new client pitches over it. I've only had 2 people even ever mention it and they were more curious over whether it hurt to have done ( no) and how the jewellery stays in!

Slinky

Larry22 wrote: »

Hi all I've been following this thread with great interest, 1 of my sons has tattoos all over, neck,head,ears,arms,hands as well as many over the rest of his body, he also has piercings on nose & ears has massive holes in his ear lobes and has even had his tongue split!
(Weird I know) he is the middle son aged 29. I must admit that he has the best personality of all 3 of my lads, never aggressive, always polite and never has a bad word to say about anyone. He has never been in trouble with the police for anything let alone mugging someone, he has never been unemployed & at one time even worked as a asst manager in a shop. Anyone whoever meets him says what a charming person he is. He is now very successful in the career he was aiming for since being in school.
A well established Tattooist & from feedback 1of the best portrait tattoo artists in Birmingham.
Ps I was one of the people always saying you will never get a job! How wrong and proud am I.

Well a job tattooing other people is the job least likely to be discriminated against if you have tattoos isn't it!

gettingready

AmanitaM wrote: »

I have a professional customer facing job which involves me managing large amounts of client investment money and a nose piercing with a small diamond stud that I wear all the time. I also have a couple of non lobe ear piercings but they are generally covered by my hair so don't really count.

None of my clients ( including some major corporates) have ever had a problem with it and I have not lost any new client pitches over it. I've only had 2 people even ever mention it and they were more curious over whether it hurt to have done ( no) and how the jewellery stays in!

Small pretty nose stud on a female or ear piercings are not an issue for anyone I would think.

Someone with lip/eyebrow piercings and/or visible tattoos is another matter.