The Controversy Over Tattoos and Piercings in the Workplace
Written by Morgan Greenlee, Former Student on Tuesday, January 27, 2015
As some of our students at SHS approach their eighteenth birthdays they may be thinking about going to get tattoos or piercings. Body art is a unique way to individualize ourselves and even sometimes make a memory a permanent part of our physical appearances. What we shouldn’t have to worry about when making these decisions is whether our physical appearance will lower the probability of obtaining jobs in the workplace. Instead of discriminating against tattoos and piercings, employers should recognize diversity. A high proportion of our younger population has at least one tattoo, so sooner than later offices will be forced to hire entirely based on skill and experience rather than appearances affecting their reputations. Tattoos are also a right we have that is protected by the constitution, so it seems logical that tattoos and piercings should also be federally protected in the workplace.
We live in the United States and we are recognized by other countries for the freedom that our government gives us. If we are so free, why should employers be able to discriminate against the ink on our skin? In a survey done by salary.com of 2,700 people, 76 percent felt that having a tattoo hurts their chances of getting a job. People shouldn’t be hesitant to get a tattoo or pierce their skin because they think they will be judged and/or unemployed. Diversity is a beautiful thing that our country takes pride in and we should advertise that by eliminating discrimination.
Statistics show that as of 2013, 40 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 had at least one tattoo. With such a high proportion of our young population wearing tattoos and piercings, workplaces will not be able to be as picky about who they hire based on whether they have visible tattoos or not. Employers will have to decide whether they want more “approachable” employees or employees that have exceptional skills and great work ethic with a few tattoos. 39 percent of employers believe that employees that have tattoos reflect poorly on their reputations.
The constitution gives us the right to tattoo and pierce our skin, but discrimination in offices still occur. If it is a constitutional right to have tattoos, it should be federally protected in the workplace also. Race and gender discrimination is illegal, so why shouldn’t tattoos be a right also?
In the near future, tattoo and piercing discrimination should be completely illegal. We, as a country, should embrace the differences in opinions that we have and welcome diversity with open arms. Just because some of the population doesn’t agree with the idea of tattoos doesn’t mean that they should judge others. Tattoos and piercings are choices. You can choose to get one yourself, or look the other way and live your life as you were.
