Ok, so today I found out that a coworker will be going before the board for termination next week because a client saw her tattoo. The one in question is on her lower back and a client called in and complained that some young punk covered in tattoos came and took her child. Now, I know for a fact that 90% of the people that I work with have a tattoo somewhere (myself included) and find this rule a little harsh. She will be fighting it but made me wonder....

Have any of y'all ever had issues at work because of tattoos? Ever felt like there is something you can't do work related because of your tattoos? Ex. Company party

no but mine are easily covered

I worked for a company that had a strict policy regarding tattoos. They didn't care if you had them, but they could not ever be visible. They also banned facial piercings other than ears. Their reason was that clients would find those things offensive, so they were to either be covered or removed (piercings) while on duty.

Must be a pretty stringent work place. As you can see...im covered in them. And where I work has no problem with them at all.

Though I do keep them below the neck and above the wrist....because you never know.

I have six tats. If I am in business attire you can't see any of them.....I am wondering though....was it the tat that angered the parent or seeing someone's back side? Sometimes people wear clothing that can be questionable-just playing devil's advocate here. I hope she doesn't lose her job....times are tough for everyone right now.

I believe it's considered unprofessional in some cases.

Well I have no tattoos and this is the exact reason why... however I do have 21 piercings and since I'm a full time student I do only have a part time job... but even at that job... I have to wear my hair down to cover my ears and neck I have to take the ones out of my nose and tongue... or I get suspended.
I think they can't be any more wrong. So what? it's self expression and if people are that bothered by it then they need to get used to it... because I dont see this going away any time soon

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyday we hear about what we can and cannot do. Is this place called
American gone nutty....
We can not express how we feel?
Tatooed or not?
I have never given a hoot as far as what someone wants to do with their bodies.....



Sounds like the late 60-early 70 to me.......IMO

Well, in certain cases I do understand why they ask people to remove piercings or ensure that their tattoos are covered. I myself have 4 tats, but they are all in places that are covered by my clothes.

even the military is or has been cracking down on tats. No longer you can not have them visable on the arms, necks etc. as they portray the military as thugs to others in the world..

I think what your friend has is commonly called a "tramp stamp" type of tat? if so she should make every effort to keep it covered. Its a shame because some of them are very beautiful and artistically done. BUT. people my age look at them and think "thats the bitoch that stole my husband , little slut". Men sometimes lot at them as an easy mark..hence the tramp stamp. shame people are so darn ignorant..

I have tats as well and the stuff that people are saying today sounds SO OLD>>>>lol

I used to work at Lowes and know a guy who got laid off. Because of his pierced tongue. My long hair wouldn't have went over either. Now I'm my own boss.

It really depends on the company policy. I have worked for places that I had to sign indicating that I was to keep my tattoos covered. It was a very professional type environment. And there are some people who don't see body art as being professional.

Let's face it, that demon tattoo with blood dripping from it's mouth doesn't exactly bring about thoughts of an office and boardroom. Same goes for a near naked woman humping a motorcycle.

In the instant of that all important "first impression", who are you going to go with to care for your child, perform that brain surgery, etc... the guy with tats head to toe the conservative guy next to him?

Yes, it is a matter of PERCEPTION, as well as freedom of expression. BUT...in business, much of daily life IS perception.

Sorry to hear about your friend. I have 18 tatts, and when I'm at work, all but one ARE visible, that one being on my shoulder. I was a soldier, and then a Sheriff's Deputy for a total of 17 years, and never once had any problems.

You friend should review the case of the person making the accusation, as any fool can see it's in retaliation for your friend doing her job.

Tats, piercings, all that stuff is a form of self expression. But, and this is a very big but, when you are in a bussiness enviorment the customers rule. And some customers do not want to see that stuff on the people who are serving them their coffee, bagging ther grocerys, or drafting up their leagal papers. As far as the woman who is getting fired because of her tats there may be something else involved, like her behavior when picking up the kid.

Yes, tatts and piercings are a form of self-expression, key word being SELF. You are allowed to express yourself however you choose. But, you have to realize that your employer can also express itself however IT chooses, they may not want to offend their customers in any way, that's how they lose business. When they lose business, you lose your job, etc etc etc. There are many professions where appearing conservative is the rule, especially if it's an international business. Tattoos, piercings, etc are considered unprofessional in certain professions. If you want to keep them, ensure they can be fully covered and/or removed if necessary, or find a business/profession where it doesn't matter.

In my personal opinion, I could care less, so long as they're somewhat tasteful. But where I work, they're a no-no.

I currently have 2 tats. One on my boobage and the other on my ankle. Considering I work in county government, it was requested that I especially keep the "upper" one covered as to not offend some of the older customers that come in.

I have no problem with that. It was requested in a professional manner. And I, as a professional, choose to honor that request.

When I made the choice to have body arr, I made a conscious decision to put them in places where I can make the choice to show them or not, due to my chosen profession. I've been lucky enough that most of the jobs I have had didn't care, but some have.

If you can't handle the designated rules of your job... don't work there. Simple enough.

Everyone has great opinions and I completely agree, but in the same breath, it wasn't like she was intentionally putting it out there. A mistaken slip of the shirt that is being blown out of proportion. It very well may just be a disgruntled client because I do work for CPS and we are 'baby stealers', so who knows. Would any of you be self conscious going to a company bbq and wearing a bathing suit because of tattoos that you have? I think that if you are outside of the work environment, it shouldn't really matter what you wear/have on or in your body.

Nope. I work in construction. They would think badly otherwise


But question at hand, that is just wrong. It is covered 99.9% of the time. So why is one incident an issue?

I am thinking because the client made such a huge deal about it. We removed her kid, she saw that and went off and called Austin and raised hell. Who knows all of the details though. I think the punishment is a tad, no very, extreme for what the 'crime' was. Losing a job over a slip of the shirt? so that means if my shirt slips, my job is up for it too. It's craziness