Tattoos in the Workplace: Okay or No Way?

This is an appropriate topic today, since I'm wearing a short sleeved shirt that reveals the tattoo on my upper arm. I usually wear a blazer or sweater over it, but my supervisor is not here, and I don't feel as inappropriate in it. She has never said anything against it being seen, and actually said it was a cool tattoo. But, I am a professional person, and when at work ,I want to be perceived a certain way (competent, professional, intelligent) I'm all of these things with my tattoo, but the stuffy people in suits would only see the tattoo. I hate that stigma! I try to not have it completely out in the open all of the time, but when it's extremely hot, I have to compromise. I work in an office, so I usually can easily cover it when needed. Thank God I'm not in Corporate.....

Depends on the art, the location, and the job.

Depends on the job and depends on where it is! A tattoo on the ankle while wearing closed toed high heels seems so much more approrpriate than one peaking out of a low cut v-neck shirt.

I think they are k as long as theyare not vulgar or offensive

I love tattoos but I don't have any. I do know that a lot of employers don't want to see those tattoos showing if their company deals with conservative clients. I have seen more and more people working in places with tattoos that are visible but lets be honest if it's a higher paying job that may be dealing with clients that bring in Hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars that tattoo is not going to be viewed positively. In the past tattoos have been associated with people who like to party and drink. Or criminal activities. I think if the employer is okay with your tattoos showing at work then that is fine but I do believe the employer has the right to decide what is okay to be presented to their clients after all it is their business that is being affected.

depends on the job. If you are suppose to be professional (office) then no

I agree with some that have posted previously. If the tattoo is not offensive, I think they are ok for the workplace. I also think that, some of it depends on the type of work. *Shrug*

I think you shouldn't need to cover up your tatts, unless they're offensive for a workplace environment (tattoos of naked people, for example). I think that most tattoos are pretty cool & it's just another form of self-expression--like makeup & manicures. I think what's more important is personal appearance--clean, bathed, well-groomed employees. Tattoos or not, if someone looks like they wore their clothes to bed, didn't brush their hair or take a bath this morning, I am grossed out... Appearance is so much more than body art. Also, tattooed people can bring in a different clientele; not everyone is freaked out by tattoos. Great read :)

I personally have no body art but I do admire it to some point. I do understand why some people choose to cover up because there definitely is a big stigma surrounding tattoo's and a persons work ethic which is really sad because judging someone by how they look will not tell you if that person is a great worker or a lousy one. Being judged by how you look should never have to make or break whether or not someone gets the job. doctors,politicians,teachers, etc. should all be able to be who they are without being judged.

Honestly, I don't see the big deal! Tattoos are a work of ART and shouldn't have anything to do with how "professional" you look! There are millions of people out there in the world with tattoos. You may not see it, but people have them. If you think someone that has a tat is a "criminal" you might as well be claimed a shame to society for even judging that. There are DOCTORS out there with tats that save LIVES...who's one to claim whether or not a tattoo is unprofessional or not.

No way. They look trashy to potential clients and are very unprofessional. Covered up is one thing, but if they show, it's different.

I think it depends on the type of job. I work for the government and they ask that men cover up any big tattoo however we have many women who have small tattoos that are open for the showing. I have a small one just above my ankle and I have never thought to cover it up and I don't think anyone has even noticed it. It really depends on the size and type and using judgment. If I had one on my arm then I would probably cover up for interview or at the workplace if the situation called for it. I think nowadays the dress code has relaxed enough to allow most workers to openly wear small unobtrusive tattoos.

I personally have a tattoo and always try to cover it for interviews because you never know what people's personal opinion is about tattoos. I also try to hide it as much as possible when I dress for work. I don't think tattoos should reflect negatively on a person but believe that it does to some people.

As long as the tattoos are not offensive, I feel they should be okay in the work place.

it amazes me how people are going tattoo crazy these days. I wonder how they will feel at 70 with that ink tattooed all over their bodies? Will they regret having done it? I don't have any tattoos so I am in the non-ink camp myself . I don't see how it will be possible for people to cover up tattoos at work. Not with the massive amount of ink they are tattooing all over their bodies. I can see how it would negatively impact them at a job interview, even with how mainstream tattooing is these days. It stil holds onto its taboo image.