Tattoos on workers dealing with the public

[Dopey Sharon]

I'm going to preface this by saying that I have nothing against people with tattoos...I have one, my DH has three and my DD also has three.

I went to the shoe store to return a pair of shoes. The guy who waited on me had several tattoos up and down both arms. What really caught my eye was the one of a naked lady on the underside of his forearm. It wasn't a small one, it went from his wrist to his elbow.

Like I said, I have nothing against tattoos, but I really am surprised that a company (Famous Footwear) would hire someone, who is going to be dealing with the public, with this tattoo on his arm.

If you are in the position of hiring people, would you hire this guy, knowing that just about everyone who comes into contact with him, including children, are going to see this tattoo?

 

[Pop Daddy]

was the naked lady sexy

 

[musclecar_72]

I'd have no problem hiring someone with some Tattoos. However I wouldn't let them wear a T-shirt in my store with a naked lady on it so I also wouldn't let someone with one on his forearm work without covering it up.

 

[alabamaalan]

Can you require him to wear long sleeves without requiring other employees to do so?

It seems like a "dress code" would have to be mandated for all employeess to prevent that.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

I would hire him, but he would need to have them covered at all times.

I love tattoos; I have one myself. Mine is pretty much always covered. I used to have my tongue pierced. However, when I went to work I had a clear piece in so that no one could see it. Not everyone likes tattoos or wants to see them.

 

[cardaway]

This perception is something that needs to change IMO.

When I go to a store I don't care if the person has tattoos or piercings as long as I get good service. It's not like I'm looking to make friends or take them home with me.

 

[helenabear]

To me there is nothing wrong with tattoos. I have no problem seeing them. Maybe a perception needs to change, but to show off a naked lady in public at work? That is tasteless IMO. If I were that manager, just because it was a naked body, would I require to cover it up. That alone is wrong.

I have a tattoo myself, but I am able to cover it when I want or need to. So I personally like seeing them myself, but from a professional standpoint, I think that is tacky.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Personally, I don't care if someone has tattoos or piercings. I know some employers have policies against it though. My ex-husband has a lot of tattoos (he's currently working on getting a half-sleeve and he has a lot of tats on his back), but he works at a bank that has policies against tats, so they have to be covered at all times.

A local grocery store chain is another company that has policies against tattoos and piercings, so they have to be covered. One of the cashiers there wears a band-aid on her nose at work so as to cover up the piercing. Personally, I think the band-aid is a little more distracting than the stud in her nose.

ETA: I agree that having a naked person tattoo visible to the public you're working with is very tacky.

 

[maxiesmom]

You can't make him dress differently than the other workers, that would be discrimination. You can't refuse to hire because he has them either, that would be discrimination.

You would not believe how hard it is to hire people for retail. Most people do not understand that you have to work almost every weekend, and quite a few nights too. It is very hard to find someone who will work a schedule that changes from week to week, and is a hard worker, and nice to the customers. A tatoo would be the least of my worries.

 

[disykat]

If the tattoo is not appropriate for your clientel (naked lady + children), you should have to cover it up - period. It doesn't have anything to do with tattoos. It has to do with the content of the tattoo.

 

[CheshireVal]

Tattoos don't bother me at all, and I don't think workers should be required to cover them. However, I do think a naked lady tattoo is very tacky and probably the manager should ask that it stay covered.

 

[jbdreamer]

You can't make him dress differently than the other workers, that would be discrimination. You can't refuse to hire because he has them either, that would be discrimination.

Sure you can. I have worked many places where all visible tattoos had to be covered - including Disney World. Asking him to keep a tattoo covered is not discrimination, it's a dress code.

 

[Crankyshank]

I have no problem with tattoos and piercings in the work place. I do think a naked person tattoo is tacky and should be covered when dealing with the public (unless at a place where tattoos are common)

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I think that a naked lady tattoo is tacky! A naked guy tattoo, on the other hand is ! Just kidding! I'm ok with tattoos in general, but the content has to be something that is appropriate for the clientele.

 

[Jeanny]

when I was working retail, all tatoo's had to be covered.
No jewerly on your face either... this meant eyebrow rings, lip rings, nose rings, TONGUE rings were a NO-NO!!!
they could cover their eyebrow rings with a band-aid... but that was hard to do with a tongue ring!!
Only 3 small earrings (no big hoops or donut holes!) in each ear were allowed, excess earrings had to be removed during your shift.
No belly button rings! we had one young girl who got one while she was working there... she spent more time cleaning her belly button and twisting the ring than working. Management told her to keep it covered or remove it, that was the policy.

 

[scraptoons]

Maybe you can explain it to the store manager? Show your own tattoos so you don't come across with the wrong impression.

I've seen band-aids used for covering "tacky" piercings and tattoos.
Usually it only screams, "Look! I have a pierced lip (or whatever) and I have to cover it up in order to work here!"

But in this case, maybe the band-aid strategically placed on a couple of spots of this naked lady?
I personally don't like tattoos, but if I were a customer who saw that naked lady with band-aids, I would have something to chuckle about instead of being offended.

 

[DVC-Don]

Visible tatoos are forbidden at the business DW and I own. So are visible piercings other than a couple in each ear. We run an insurance and financial investment business and image is important. It's in the employe handbook and mentioned at interviews.

 

[cardaway]

Things get very complicated if the policy allows visible tattoos because then you get into content of the tattoo.

There are countless different things people will find offensive in tattoos, no way to please everybody other than saying no visible tattoos.

Piercings are another huge subject since some are religion related.

And by far the most distracting thing I ever saw in a store was a person wearing bandaids to cover their parts that did not fit the dress code. Much worse than just allowing the objects in question.

Lastly, not all nudity = porn.

 

[disneysteve]

Think of it this way. Would you allow your employees to work wearing a t-shirt with a photo of a naked woman? If not, then why should you let them display a tattoo of a naked woman.

This isn't a discrimination issue at all. Tattooed people aren't a protected class. Employers have the right to establish dress code and appearance codes as long as they don't violate the law regarding race, religion, gender or ADA guidelines.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Well, I'm glad to see that that the majority agree with me and I didn't turn into a prude at 46! LOL

Like I said, I have nothing against tattoos, but I really was surprised that they allowed this employee to work without having to cover it up.