Tattoo's, Piercings and Employment

System

I'd be more likely to shop there, as i'd like the fcat the shop allowed the staff some freedom to express themselves, probably as well as i'd identify more with them as someone who has piercings and crazy coloured hair. Like for example..i prefer going into the small alternative shop to buy my hair dye as opposed to the other place because the other place has staff who all look the same (fake tan, blonde hair etc) an they never show interest in talking to me, where as in the alt shop i can usually have a decent coversation with them.

That said i'm fully aware a lot of people arent as liberal so if i have job interviews i always take out my piercings and wear my normal hair coloured wig.

coinxoperated

In my experience, I have always found alternative people to just be generally well rounded and nicer people... Although I have always felt warmer towards us 'freaks'

Tiddlywinks

coinxoperated wrote: »

Could people also say what piercings / tattoos they have, if any? It may give a better view on the subject

All opinions are being read and appriciated!

I have no tattoos but have my ears pierced (once hole in each ear only).

I hate those ear piercings where the ear lobe has been stretched around a big ring - I find those revolting... however, other cultures would find them normal... Basically, everyone has their own view and you can never really predict how they might react.

Also, times change... 15 years ago virtually no rugby players had tattoos now a large proportion of forwards have tribal type tattoos on one or both arms.

I also hate the way ink fades and, personally, think that faded tattoos look really rough on old and wrinkled skin.

Sorry if I've offended anyone but am just providing my personal preferences.

coinxoperated

My uncle is an ex hells angel and is covered in dreadful faded tattoos, and has the usual LOVE and HATE across his knuckles. He is so very ashamed of all of his tattoo's and enjoys winter as he can wear gloves to cover most of them up! So I can see negatives and positives.

I'm aware that they also 'age' people.

For example, a few years back the 'tramp stamp' on the lower back was very popular. It now means the majority of people who have them are around the age of 30 - 40. Times and fashions change.

But what right should have an employer have over your own body? If I had a lovely (for example, wouldn't do it!) small butterfly tattooed on to my cheek. Extremely non-offensive, but I KNOW that it would be a struggle to gain any worthwhile employment. How could this be changed? When do you think employers will be more free and open to alternative fashions?

Tiddlywinks

coinxoperated wrote: »

In my experience, I have always found alternative people to just be generally well rounded and nicer people... Although I have always felt warmer towards us 'freaks'

In your experience.... that says it all. People make judgements based on their own life experiences and upbringing.

coinxoperated wrote: »

But what right should have an employer have over your own body? If I had a lovely (for example, wouldn't do it!) small butterfly tattooed on to my cheek. Extremely non-offensive, but I KNOW that it would be a struggle to gain any worthwhile employment. How could this be changed? When do you think employers will be more free and open to alternative fashions?

Everyone will react slightly differently to the same situation / person / event... When will tattoos be more universally accepted? Who knows? Some changes in society can be relatively quick, other can take many generations.

I personally shudder at the thought that we could change to the point where facial tattoos and piercings became the norm - again my personal view.

TrickyWicky

You asked for a customers POV so my thoughts are in blue in the quote.

coinxoperated wrote: »

I was just wondering what individuals opinions were of facial piercings / visable tattoos on employees? Stupid and old fashioned this view but I've always thought people with metal and body art are dodgy. Sorry if that offends, its just the way I was brought up and having known tons of dodgy people over the years it's kind of reinforced that. Don't forget, body art used to be associated with bikers and gangs and stuff and a lot of people still see it like that.

Would you shop / visit elsewhere if the person trying to sell you something had for example, cheek piercings? Personally I'm put off by people with body art. I always wonder if I'm gonna get mugged or battered over the head.

Would you distrust someone with piercings / tattoos? Only if I didn't know them. That said, I've known plenty of people with them that I still don't trust though they've never actually done anything to harm me.

What if they had a large non-offensive chest tattoo that you could see? I'm put off by women who have them on their back above their bum.. anything else is just worse!

My partner has a piercing at the top of his nose, inbetween his eyes, and is covered in tattoos (albeit, non from the neck upwards and non on hands). He works in a non-customer facing role. Previously he worked in a customer facing role and took the facial piercings out so as to not cause any 'offence'.... See I would feel much more at ease with someone who takes them out purely because it shows they have respect for you and don't want you thinking anything bad / dodgy about them.

coinxoperated wrote: »

If you were an employer taking someone on in a non-customer facing role, would you care if they had visable tattoo's and piercings?

Please excuse me if I sound like a stereotype.. If I was employing you in a non customer facing role (eg say warehouse work) my biggest concern would be if stock would suddenly go missing or I'd turn up one day and find the place full of bikers.. or drugs traded at the back door etc.

I know that probably doesn't really happen but its a perceived image that many people have. Many people who have body art are aware of this too yet still choose to decorate themselves knowing how many people will see it (and then wonder if it'll cause work problems).

I guess the bottom line is that people who want to be associated with that image must somehow identify with it and like it in order to go with it. When you're prepared to be part of that image, it raises doubts about what other sort of things they might be into.


I hope my views don't offend anyone, I'm just being open and honest about how I feel and how I see it. I'm kind of old fashioned about things like body art but I know there are a lot of people who are quite accepting of it too. My partner once had 5 studs in their ear :eek: (luckily they were gone when we met lol)

j.e.j.

coinxoperated wrote: »

When do you think employers will be more free and open to alternative fashions?

If you look for work in media or something 'creative' it won't be a problem. It's only companies where conservative dress and conformist behaviour is expected where you'd find a problem.

In fact I think that about sums it up, - many employers, especially big companies, won't want to employ someone who is free-thinking, independent-minded and creative. They want people who will conform and fit in. And if you turn up with tattoos and piercings you are kind of giving out the message that you are not the conformist type of person.

Jo_F

I went for a job interview 2 months after having my nose pierced, I totally forgot about it until I got home afterwards. That, a tattoo trying to peak out of my shirt, and the fact I had spent the last 5 years working from home as a sex text operator (which was mentioned in my interview), I really thought that perhaps I wasn't going to get the job.

I was delighted when I was offered the job, customer facing with a large nationwide company.

Company policy is tattoos are allowed, but they have to be non-offensive, (mine are all covered at work anyway), facial piercings are ok, but they do ask for us to only have 1. Can't remember what the company policy is on hair colour, but my store manager is pretty flexible about that one.

I also design and sell my own beaded jewellery and accessories, and people don't seem put off by my nose stud.

mandragora_2

I have to be honest and say I personally don't like facial piercings as a customer (makes me feel 'bleugh' - put it down to my age!!), though it wouldn't put me off completing a purchase - rude or indifferent staff make me walk out without finishing a deal once I've decided to buy. If I can be a*sed I let their bosses know on the rare occasions when I do this - other times I'm happy to let them sink or swim as a business.

As a recruiter, it would put me off, but I work in a sector you would expect that of and have already decided you don't want to work in. That's fine for now, but please don't make any irreversible decisions now that you won't be able to undo later in life - you never know what's round the corner, especially, say 20 years down the road, when you may well want different things and to develop yourself in different ways.

I have a colleague who is in charge of looking after the beautiful building we work in. Any changes she makes to the premises in response to helping us do our jobs better, she always does with a 'What can I do that will make least permanent impact on the building, because other people may come along later and want to do something different' approach. I'd say that's a wise philosophy to adopt with your face, neck and any other publicly visible part of yourself as well.

Hermia

My cousin has to spend a lot of time and effort covering his tattoos up for work and he really wishes he had got less visible ones. When he got them done he was Mr alternative student, but in his mid 20s he realised his talent lay in a conservative, traditional profession. He is still pretty alternative, but he just wishes he had realised it's good to give yourself the option to be able to change your look.

I have worked in places that have employed people with facial piercings and we have had complaints. For me, it does depend on the company. It is was a record shop I wouldn't think anything of it. But, I'm not sure how I'd react if I walked in a solicitor's office and saw someone covered in tattoos and piercings.