Tattoos in Traditional Workplaces

I remember seeing this incredibly handsome brother working at Starbucks.  He was sweet as all candy and had a beautiful smile.  Upon closer inspection I noticed he had a tattoo on his neck.  That was one of many tattoos on his arms and hands.  I let escape a small sigh before wondering what the heck possessed him to get all of those tattoos all over his body in plain view.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I have a tattoo.  However, it can only be seen when I choose to let it be seen (though there have been some unfortunate sightings that have had me re-think certain clothing).

But I thought to myself, brother could easily be running this Starbucks instead of just working here.  But what he is presenting to the world may prevent him from getting there.

Is it fair? No, but nothing in life is.

Who knows, maybe he couldn’t care less about what his tattoos communicated about him.  Or maybe he did, and that was the point.

But the encounter struck me while reading Pink Magazine’s Little Pink Book post on tattoos at work:

You’ve probably caught a glimpse of some body ink on your co-worker’s arm as she rolls up her sleeve. Forty percent of people 18-40 have tattoos – and chances are you’ve wondered how appropriate they are in the workplace. Much like a company dress code, it may just depend on where you work.

“Tattoos are more prevalent now than they were 10 or 20 years ago, but that doesn’t mean every employer is open to them,” says Michelle Goodman, author of The Anti 9 to 5 Guide.

Generation Y is more likely to be tattooed than women over 40. So, expect a shift in the way body art is perceived as these young women rise through the ranks at work.

Perhaps I’m a little too conservative?

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