The Evolution of Tattoos and Piercings in the Workplace
Humans have been modifying and inking their bodies for thousands of years. (The earliest known tattoo dates back to 5000 BCE!) They’ve been expressions of art, culture, communication, and reverence. During the post-Civil War era, they were even seen as signs of wealth and luxury (as few could afford the costs of the process).
However, cultural misunderstandings of certain groups have led to stigmas of all tattoos. For decades, tattoos and piercings in Western culture have been associated with deviant behavior, criminality, or mental health issues. These stigmas have, unfortunately, bled over into the workplace.
Misconceptions about Tattoos and Piercings in the Workplace
There are several longstanding misconceptions about people with tattoos and their work ethic. These misunderstandings might not be believed by the company, but they’re often extreme views that companies want to avoid. Here are a few of the ones that continue to circulate:
Tattoos and piercings mean lazy workers.
They’re distracting.
They’re too casual for some businesses.
Piercings and tattoos negatively impact the branding and bottom line of a brand.
Piercings are unsanitary.
The statistics are oddly mixed from employees and employers. Roughly 76% of employees feel that tattoos and piercings hurt job interview chances. However, 73% of employers claim they’d hire staff who had visible tattoos. Where it gets hairy is with older generations; stats show that 63% of respondents over 60 years old don’t approve of tattoos in the office and a sizable percentage of the population associates tattoos with lacking seriousness.
Where Tattoos in the Workplace are Going
As it stands right now in the US, there’s no legislation that prevents a company from hiring or firing based on tattoos or piercings. With corporate culture shifting to an employee focus, however, more companies are starting to realize that they’re restricting themselves by maintaining the stigmas associated with tattoos and piercings.
There’s a cultural shift; people realize that having a tattoo doesn’t mean you’re a slacker — and they don’t mean a company is ‘‘slacking’ or unprofessional. Even giant family brands like Disney now allow all employees to show tattoos! The feedback we’re seeing from progressive brands are:
A better sense of individuality in a company. A person’s tattoo is an incredibly unique form of expression. Employees are happier when they’re able to express themselves without feeling like they have to hide who they are during the workday.
Broader understandings of diversity. Tattoos and piercings can also be representations of culture. By giving people the opportunity to show their artwork, businesses are being more inclusive of employees of different backgrounds.
Seeing a bigger turnout in applications. With the shift to employee-first cultures, some older companies are struggling to get in applications. Allowing for visible tattoos is one of many policies (along with work-from-home and mental health leave) that people looking for jobs are excited to see! And those policies make people more inclined to seek roles with companies that make them feel more accepted.
At Eden, we’re thrilled to continue our roles as part of a storied history of tattoo and piercing artists. We believe that body modifications are art — plain and simple. They’re expressions of people, and those expressions should be celebrated. If you’re looking for a professional team of artists, give us a call.