Sep
18
2014
Tattoos in the workplace, are they really taboo in 2014?
By Sally Pearman.
Every few years there are a flurry of media stories about tattoos in the workplace and these tend to regurgitate the same messages: that tattoos and body modification aren’t professional, aren’t corporate, and that they give out a 'certain message'. But in 2014, is this kind of rhetoric really useful? Does having a tattoo or piercing really impact your value as an employee?
More and more people from a range of backgrounds, working in a range of industries, are getting tattooed. My dad got a tattoo a few years ago and that was certainly something I would never have predicted! There are more tattoo parlours, more styles, more conventions and more legislation to ensure happy tattooed customers. On some level this would imply that the negative connotations must have changed. And yet, every time a friend of mine is deliberating about getting a tattoo there’s always hesitancy, not brought on by choosing the artist or the image, but whether the tattoo will somehow ‘brand’ them in a way they’ll regret.
A tattooist’s view
As the Centre is based on Old Street I didn’t have to look very far to find a successful tattooist (one I can personally recommend) to get their view on this subject. Paul Hill is one of the founders of Vagabond Tattoo Studio on Hackney Road (just a short stroll away from us) and he’s also noticed a significant change in the market:
"Tattoos have become much more widely accepted in recent times, both in general society and in the workplace. We see a wide variety of different people from every walk of life and every age group. That can be anything from tattoo collectors to doctors and lawyers. Tattooing has become less of a taboo for older generations too and I think this is reflected in some employers’ more relaxed attitudes towards them.
Being heavily tattooed in very public places such as hands, neck and face will undoubtedly affect your progression in certain career paths. I believe being tattooed should be more acceptable but there are limits to how far people push things if they are not an artist or working within the tattoo industry".
Do tattoos affect how people perceive you in the workplace?
I worked for a not-for-profit a few years ago and one of the external trustees came from a legal background. After retiring she instantly went out and had some beautiful large pieces tattooed on both her arms. She felt, in the time she was practising, that having tattoos would have impacted her career. So that definitely echoes Paul’s sentiments that, although attitudes are changing, you may want to consider the location and size of your piece.
But it’s not just tattoos: other body modification such as facial piercings and non-standard hair colours can also attract some mixed reactions. Sarah Twist from NHS South Commissioning Support Unit doesn’t have any tattoos but she does have several piercings and brightly coloured hair (she currently has a full rainbow). I asked Sarah how she felt about her appearance and whether it had impacted how people view her in the workplace.
“I think that there is a different perception of people with alternative looks in the workplace. Personally, I think that it makes me appear younger, which can be a good or a bad thing.
I always feel more friendly towards a company who allows me to make my appearance how I would like it. It’s also important to remember when considering discrimination that an alternative appearance is still a choice, and where appropriate, it is reasonable to ask for changes to be made. If asked (especially for specific events) I understand the desire to tone down my appearance when representing the company and am happy to appear more understated.
From my personal point of view, I have no problem with keeping an open dialogue with people who have never had any piercings and wouldn’t know the first thing about getting their hair from brown to blue and am always happy to talk about my hair. For me, it’s just become another talking point to start a conversation which supports social relationships in the workplace.”
Comically, Sarah notes that it does make her easy to spot at work!
It’s interesting to hear that having the support of her organisation makes Sarah feel happier at work, and that’s something that other companies should certainly take note of. She acknowledges her willingness to tone down her appearance for specific events but enjoys having the freedom of expression to dress how she feels comfortable.
I spoke with Christopher Beecham, HR Manager at Breast Cancer Campaign to get a HR perspective on the subject. “We just ask staff to dress appropriately; so fairly relaxed in the office but more professional when meeting with clients. I like to see individualism in the workplace but feel that for the majority of workplaces prejudice can still prevail. That standing out from the crowd could ultimately hold someone back. The safest choice would be to dress appropriately for the situation.”
First impressions count
Liz Sewell is the founder of Belina Consulting, an organisation that specialises in getting parents back into work after having a family. A lot of the training Liz delivers is around CV writing and interview skills so her insight on employers’ first impressions was something I was keen to hear.
“My take would be that employers are more accepting of tattoos now than they were ten years ago - as they become more prevalent in society.
But there are still areas of the body – the visible part of the neck, hands or face – where employers can still find them an issue, and if I were advising people I would say that it would make getting a job in public facing areas more difficult.”
And my view on the subject?
In general my sentiments echo the people I’ve spoken to whilst putting this blog together. There has been a huge shift towards individuality and self-expression in the workplace. Pastel hair colours, tattoo sleeves and facial piercings are no longer confined to students or the creative industries.
Appraisals and KPIs focus on tangible outcomes and an individual’s success at work. There simply isn’t the space to judge people on aesthetics when these goals are usually part of a much bigger strategic plan. The space for bias is shrinking and that’s clear by the increasing number of subconscious-bias tools that are being developed to support fairer recruitment and selection.
But err on the side of caution - irrespective of job role we are all working in an increasingly competitive market. Several organisations are usually competing for the same projects and hundreds of people are competing for the same jobs. Although I’ve got a tattoo sleeve it’s not something I usually have on show the first time I’m meeting with a new client or someone I’m about to start coaching. Usually they’ll notice and it becomes a talking point, but for that initial meeting I like to be assessed on my knowledge of Learning and Development rather than my taste in tattoos.
And I think that’s the takeaway message: better to have a blazer, long sleeve shirt and opaque tights in your armoury so that if you want to dress down you can. I adore my tattoos but sometimes I wish I’d thought about the number of sunny days I’d be in blazers! All the same, I would have done it anyway…
