Tattoos on workers dealing with the public

[minkydog]

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.

I agree. I work in a hospital. You better believe we have a dress code and it includes a paragraph about tattoos and piercings--mostly along the line of "we don't want to see it." Men and women have the same basic dress code as regards hair, clothing, earrings,and shoes. We're striving for a professional look and IMO, naked lady tattoos are not it.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

The town I work for has a policy that all tattoos must be covered, and you cannot have any piercings other than earrings in while you are working. A friend of mine works in a large doctor's office that will not hire a provider if they have a tattoo, regardless of whether it can be covered or not.

Jen

 

[Castlebound]

One the the nicest checkers at the World Market I go to has dreads, tats, and those ear rings that put big holes in their ears. I have no problem dealing with him. BUT if he had a tat of a naked woman that I could see I would want it covered. I have seen tats of naked women before and none of them looked like "art". They looked like Playboy centerfold pictures or worse. I have no problem taking my kids to the museum and seeing classical nudes there. That is different than handing them a Hustler magazine and saying that it is "art". I guess that is the problem when you display "art" on your body. Not everybody likes the same art and what one person may love someone else may find it very rude.

 

[SplshMtn99]

With regards to the shoe store employee with a naked lady tattoo, I'm SURE the stores sexual harrassment policy would be enough grounds to make him cover it up. That way there isn't just a special dress code just for him. Its a sexual harrassment policy for everyone. Same as passing around dirty jokes & photos & fulgar clothing not allowed.

Quoting myself here. Am I the only person who thinks a naked lady tattoo is more of a sexual harrassment issue than dress code issue? I'm fine with an acceptable tattoo but not naked lady if working with public & children.

SURELY, their sexual harrassment policy forbids such an activity.

We had to re-sign a another copy of our companies policy each year...so I've read it ALOT. I'm not a prude at all. You should have heard some of the conversations at work. lol I just think that if that want to enforce a policy, that it would be that one.

 

[cardaway]

Quoting myself here. Am I the only person who thinks a naked lady tattoo is more of a sexual harrassment issue than dress code issue? I'm fine with an acceptable tattoo but not naked lady if working with public & children.

Depends. Without seeing the tattoo it's impossible to say.

 

[4chitlins]

Boy I thought I was old fashioned but apparently I'm in the minority here. I don't see a problem with a naked lady tatoo. I don't have any too's myself but my husband has quite a few and I consider them art, as do alot of people.I would be much more concerned about the service I was getting from this person and if I thought the too was offensive then I guess I just wouldn't look at it.

 

[Cool-Beans]

DH and I always disagree about this. I think tattoos are fun and funky and he thinks they are trashy. When the kids are out of the house and won't be here for the fight, I may get one.

But naked-lady tattoos...Nope, that's icky. I don't want to see it, thank you very much.

 

[musclecar_72]

Boy I thought I was old fashioned but apparently I'm in the minority here. I don't see a problem with a naked lady tatoo. I don't have any too's myself but my husband has quite a few and I consider them art, as do alot of people.I would be much more concerned about the service I was getting from this person and if I thought the too was offensive then I guess I just wouldn't look at it.

Would you have a problem with a naked lady standing there with children coming into and out of the store. Nevermind that would be against the law. I don't see the difference in stipping in front of kids in the store vs. walking around with a pic of it on your arm.

 

[cardaway]

I don't see the difference in stipping in front of kids in the store vs. walking around with a pic of it on your arm.

 

[PghLybrt]

I guess I should rethink hiring that Vet that has a "naked lady" on his arm.( yes he does have one) ....or maybe I should just make him wear long sleeves in 90 degree heat!( I am joking here I would never base hiring someone on the way they look!) I mean come on. It might not be for everyone but its just a tattoo.

 

[disneysteve]

I would never base hiring someone on the way they look!

That might work just fine for your business. But understand that it might not work for others. Heck, Disney is well known for their strict dress code. You never see tattooed and pierced cast members in the parks (nor would I want to). On the other hand, if I go into a trendy boutique or a music store or certain restaurants or some other places, a clean cut, non-tattooed, non-pierced clerk would probably look out of place.

I work in a professional office. Appearance is important. How people dress, what kind of jewelry they wear, their clothing, etc. are all important for projecting a certain image for our business. If that isn't the case for your business, that's just fine. You need to do what works for you.

 

[MrsPete]

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.

No, but you can have a dress code that says "No visible tattoos". The employer has a right to insist upon a certain "look" for his store. The employee, on the other hand, can decide whether it's worth the effort for him to work in that store.

Personally, I think tattoos are trashy looking, and heavily tattoed employees could taint my opinion about a business.

 

[grlpwrd]

A guy at our Home Depot has one and a guy at our Trader Joe's has many tatts and a pierced lip. I don't care - I just want good service. Then again I am a non-judgmental person.

I think there are worse things that we should worry about when it comes to our kids (like sex and violence on tv) than a tatt on someone's arm.

 

[MrsPete]

It has to do with what is and is not appropriate in a given situation. I wouldn't show up at a formal wedding in a t-shirt and jeans. I wouldn't go to work that way either.

Well-said.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

My DH is a firefighter/medic, and he has several tattoos. One is slightly visible just below his shirt sleeve. Officially, any large visible tattoos need to be covered. There are tons of guys in the EMS service that have non-visible tattoos and piercings - but they're really good at saving lives and putting out fires anyway.

One of my son's medical specialists had tattoos going down one arm - he was one of the best doctors he had!

Unless someone is obnoxiously covered in tattoos and piercings, I try not to judge too much.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

But those tattoos that your coworker has??? Those just sound warped and disturbing .

I don't know--I've always thought that Tink and Pinocchio had a thing for each other...

 

[Aidensmom]

I really don't have a problem with people having visible tattoos, and it probably would not even have registered with me that this guy's tattoo was a naked woman.

Maybe I am biased though, as I have a tattoo (which is usually visible at my professional job and was even visible at my job interviews). I know that tattoos and piercings do not define a person, nor the quality of their work. From an employee who has to work with the public, I just expect them to be able to work well with people and be polite. That, however, doesn't seem to be a job qualification for a lot of them these days, but that's a whole other thread.

 

[PghLybrt]

Never mind you are all right!! I would never hire somebody that came in wearing NASCAR gear because obviously they are not educated, or a man with longer hair or just an earring because * gasp* he might be gay and then what would I have to tell my children? ..... Can you see how ridiculous this is? I am glad there are those of us out there who do not judge based upon looks but rather actions. As far as I know we all have the same body parts and we are all born….naked!! We really need to get over it…Americans are such prudes.

 

[Kimberly]

I can't have any tattoos just because of the profession I wish to get into. Plus I change my mind constantly too, so I'd never decide on what to get.

 

[Blondy876]

Never mind you are all right!! I would never hire somebody that came in wearing NASCAR gear because obviously they are not educated, or a man with longer hair or just an earring because * gasp* he might be gay and then what would I have to tell my children? ..... Can you see how ridiculous this is? I am glad there are those of us out there who do not judge based upon looks but rather actions. As far as I know we all have the same body parts and we are all born….naked!! We really need to get over it…Americans are such prudes.

Yes, and you sound completely nonjudgmental.

I didn't take the OP to be offended by the fact that the guy had a tattoo but that it was a naked women. I agree. The only thing I want to see naked in a shoe store are feet.