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In 2013, Forbes announced that “tattoos are no longer the kiss of death in a workplace.” Sure, we have all probably noticed the increase in prevalence of tattoos, especially with the younger generation. To support this observation it has been shown that tattoo popularity has grown 13% since 2007, and in the US, 42% of people have tattoos. Interestingly, women under 35 are twice as likely to have tattoos as men in the same age group, while senior men are 71% more likely to have tattoos than senior women. (source)
Right now in the US, tattoos are a protected form of expression by the Constitution, but this does not extend to federal protection in a workplace. Confusingly, 76% of employees feel tattoos and piercings hurt your job interview chances, but 73% of people say they would hire staff that had visible tattoos. When talking with only younger professionals, 86% of them did not think that tattoos reduced their chances of getting jobs, also adding that the believed tattooed professionals were more accessible to younger coworkers. With this demographic, the belief is held that grooming and business attire are much more important and that tattooing does not inherently represent delinquent behavior.
Unfortunately, it appears that discrimination based on tattoos still exists. South Carolina, Oklahoma and Florida still have a large amount of tattoo discrimination. Many consumers have shown a preference for non-tattooed employees, and visible tattoos can still have a negative effect on employment selection. This is especially true in customer-facing roles where managers are concerned about customer expectations. There’s less likelihood of discrimination in rolls that don’t interact with customers, but many tattooed people still feel pressure from superiors, especially if they are older than fifty.
In conclusion, the acceptance of tattoos in the workplace has significantly increased, but there are trade-offs between being an authentic member of the tattooed community and working a white-collar job. Oddly, many heavily tattooed people find they receive an unwanted amount of touching due to their tattoos. Before getting a tattoo, it is worth it to consider the placement and content of the tattoo. Many professionals manage expectations by covering up the tattoo and allowing first impressions to be unaffected by the presence of ink. Along with the tattoos themselves, how to handle oneself in a professional environment can be entirely up to the individual.
What are your thoughts on tattoos? Leave a comment below!