Tattoos on workers dealing with the public

[TnTsParty]

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.

Sorry but I see a big difference in someone actually stripping in front of kids in a store and someone with a tattoo of a naked person on their arm. Its not like its really a naked person and its not like it always out front and as noticable as say an actual person standing there stripping. Like others have pointed out I am sure kids see alot more than that on TV - even if you monitor what you children watch I am sure they may see TV or other things when they are out and about in this day and age!!

 

[orljustin]

Because believe me, there are plenty of people willing to stop shopping at a place when they are uncomfortable with the image that's being projected. It may seem fickle, but that's the reality.

I probably would. If I went into a Starbucks for a drink, and some ink covered guy with three earrings and 2 nose rings, etc... served me, it's unlikely I'd go back in there. If I don't particularly want to look at some piercing freak show while I'm getting coffee, I'm pretty sure that's my right, and the company should not be surprised that that happens.

 

[bdtracey]

charlie,nj:

The cost made up of a bunch of different factors, mainly time. Location sometimes comes into play as well. Let's say for example that you want a VERY hidden mickey (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) and a heterosexual of the same gender as yourself will be the artist; I would expect them to charge you at least twice the price compared to the same art in a different, less hidden mickey, location.

I'm going to be getting a canada flag in the shape of a mickey head, about the size of an antenna ball, on the back of my calf and it will cost me $150 CDN (~$125 USD). This one will take approximately an hour to do. My other one took a little less than 1/2 an hour and it cost $85 CDN but it was done at one of the Top 15 shops in North America by Paul Jefferies (owner of Smilin' Buddha in Calgary). He's a Canadian tattooing legend and I got him simply because I'm lucky!

I forgot to quote your question but hopefully this covers it. With respect to how much they're going to charge you...it really depends on the amount of detail. If they need to do a bunch of shading it's going to take longer and therefore more money.

I would highly recommend shopping around and looking at the artists portfolios before you commit to getting inked. If you're getting something simple done you'll should be able to go with just about anyone that has done tats before. If it is something more unique (like a portrait) make sure you do your research! There are only a few select people that can do portraits and I've heard of people travelling VERY long distances for portraits. Also, there are artists that refuse to do colours; I heard that Kat Von D from Miami Ink doesn't do colours but that has not been confirmed.

HTH!!!

Edit: I just re-read your post.

Yes it hurts but not a sharp shooting pain. Imagine scratching your skin until it is raw, then scratch some more. It'll only be a little 'uncomfortable' for the first few minutes and then your endorphines (sp?) kick in. I found my first tat somewhat peaceful after a while but I think this next one will be a little rougher.

One of the neatest things I saw with respect to getting your son's name inked was on Miami Ink. This guy went in with his kid (6 or 7 years old) who knew how to spell his own name, gave him a Sharpie marker and got him to write his name on his father's chest. It totally looked like a kids writing but that's what made it really special. I'm definitely keeping that in mind when I have kids!

 

[LisaNJ25]

I heard that Kat Von D from Miami Ink doesn't do colours but that has not been confirmed.

HTH!!!

Yep, she said that on a recent show

 

[bdtracey]

I probably would. If I went into a Starbucks for a drink, and some ink covered guy with three earrings and 2 nose rings, etc... served me, it's unlikely I'd go back in there. If I don't particularly want to look at some piercing freak show while I'm getting coffee, I'm pretty sure that's my right, and the company should not be surprised that that happens.

I consider myself to look pretty normal but I do have a tattoo and piercing that you can see when I have my shirt off and I do get looked at a little differently sometimes. But in the same token, my clients can't see any of this stuff either. My next tat is going to be on my calf so it'll be more noticeable than the other one but I really can't see myself showing my clients my calf unless we're out golfing or something. Even then I'd probably be wearing pants.

BTW: I can't wait to show off my new tat when we're in WDW next month! It'll be sweet! Canada flag meets Mickey's head (like the antenna ball!!!)

 

[LadyyRedd]

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.

Yes, you can, if it's stated that tattoos must be covered and the only way to do it is wear long sleeves. You are not requiring the long sleeves, you are requiring the coverage of the tattoo. I used to work for TDS and they require that none of your tattoos show. One girl there had one on her wrist so she had to either wear the long sleeved shirt or cover it with a bandage.

Kimya

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I have no problem at all with Tattoos, DH & I have way too many. But depending on the job, i would insist they be covered! i worked for Disney and I covered all of mine no problem, that's just the way it should be.

 

[FayeW]

Tattoos and facial piercings sicken me. Seriously. When I see tattoos or lip/nose/eyebrow/tongue piercings I get nauseous. I am very close minded about such things.

 

[TnTsParty]

I probably would. If I went into a Starbucks for a drink, and some ink covered guy with three earrings and 2 nose rings, etc... served me, it's unlikely I'd go back in there. If I don't particularly want to look at some piercing freak show while I'm getting coffee, I'm pretty sure that's my right, and the company should not be surprised that that happens.

My Starbucks has a girl working there with dreadlocks and I am sure some piercings but she does her job well and that is all that matters to me. And at my Jersey Mike's there is a guy who has a lip piercing - while I would never have something like that because I do have other piercings but they are not visible and are NOT below the waist!! I would never stop going somewhere just because someone who works there has a tattoo or piercing or dreadlocks or whatever. Now if the people working there are rude, give you crappy service and/or is filthy then that is a reason to not go somewhere again.

I must say I am kinda biased on this subject since my husband has a lot of tattoos (too many to count) and I have 3 (4 including my wedding ring that says DH's name) and he also has alot of earrings in his ear (13 or 14 can't remember exactly) so people tend to be "intimidated" by him which totally amuses me because he is far from intimidating!! I think people need to be more tolerant of other people in this day and age. Its not like its 1950!! People should be judged by they job they do and their attitude not by the way they look.

 

[cardaway]

Well, I just don't know about that! I mean, how good looking was the guy??

I just had a strange *** moment. I didn't remember posting to this thread today. Took a moment to realize the thread is from July 2006.

 

[Amlee]

I have mixed feelings about this. I think a person should be able to express themselves with their tat's or piercings, but there are some jobs where they shouldn't be exposed. We have some companies that we hire for that don't want either. Some who are ok with tat's, but due to job safety piercings aren't allowed.

A few weeks ago, we hired a women to work in our office. Her job was to go out to companies to get new clients. I was afraid from the start that her dress code would be a problem. To the point we offered to go out and purchase new clothes for her to wear. We were told that wasn't needed. She seemed to enjoy wearing the same sleeveless, low cut shirt every day. This shirt was so low cut that her butterfly tat just above her nipple/along with the top part of her nipple would pop out. When confronted she did not take it very well. She was let go this week for other reasons. But she could not understand why we had a problem with her tat and nipple showing.

 

[TCPluto]

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

Actually no, it doesn't depend. A naked woman is a naked woman.

Any sexual harrassment policy in place, everywhere they have them in place, would see this issue as black and white. A provocatively dressed female tattoo would qualify as over the line.

 

[Amity 3]

if you make the poor decision to get a tattoo that can be seen if you wear pants and a long sleeve shirt, good luck with your career options.

I won't pay commission to anyone with a name on their neck.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

My DH works at Whole Foods Market, and if you have ever been in a Whole Foods, you'll know that they basically don't have a dress code. People work there with blue hair, dredlocks down to their knees, piercings on every part of their face, tatoos all over, etc. I asked him if someone who worked in the store would be asked to cover up a tatoo of a naked woman, and he said absolutely. It would be considered pornography.

 

[DISUNC]

Really dont make a difference to me.

In the early 1990's I was the manager to a Male employee who had a earring in his ear!

Oh the shame!

My Boss the VP called me into his office and told me that I have to tell him to take it off! "Its unprofessional"
I was like WTH????? I told him I would do it, only when he tells all the woman in the Office to take their earrings off too!

Needless to say....I never told the guy to take the earring off.

Times change...and so should we!

 

[mking624]

Really dont make a difference to me.

In the early 1990's I was the manager to a Male employee who had a earring in his ear!

Oh the shame!

My Boss the VP called me into his office and told me that I have to tell him to take it off! "Its unprofessional"
I was like WTH????? I told him I would do it, only when he tells all the woman in the Office to take their earrings off too!

Needless to say....I never told the guy to take the earring off.

Times change...and so should we!

When did "times change" for what is considered professional?

 

[MrsKreamer]

Wow I am surprised by the amount of people that have difficulty when someone looks different from yourself! I own 6 retail stores and in no way would I ever ask an employee change who they are. I myself am tattooed and pierced and yes they are visible and yes I work with the public and yes I work with substantially wealthy clients. My 2nd in command sports a Mohawk and plugs! If anything it makes people remember us. We sell a product that is not very different from place to place, so instead of selling the product we sell ourselves. We provide good service, knowledge and fun! (When you walk around a home show do you actually remember the differences in the product or do you remember the people who you were talking to?) Besides I have a few older clients who are Vets…you should see their tattoos. In all seriousness I think a child sees much worse in the countless hours in front of the TV watching the cartoon network then they ever see in the 10 seconds while checking out. If we all dressed in suits with our blond hair and blue eyes it would be a very very boring world….

The problem isn't the tats and if you read the posts I just read you would see that. The problem is the profain nature of the tattoo. I sure if he had Mickey Mouse(with his shorts on of course ) in place of the naked lady the OP wouldn't have blinked an eye. I worked with many pierced and tatted people at a radio station and I loved the way they looked! My DH has 3 tats, they make him, him. However he was still instructed to always wear long pants at Disney when we worked there, and because the grim reaper on his leg is a bit scary looking, he had no problem with this.

 

[DISUNC]

When did "times change" for what is considered professional?

For a male wearing a earing! Who would deem that unprofessional now.

 

[mking624]

Wow I am surprised by the amount of people that have difficulty when someone looks different from yourself! I own 6 retail stores and in no way would I ever ask an employee change who they are. I myself am tattooed and pierced and yes they are visible and yes I work with the public and yes I work with substantially wealthy clients. My 2nd in command sports a Mohawk and plugs! If anything it makes people remember us. We sell a product that is not very different from place to place, so instead of selling the product we sell ourselves. We provide good service, knowledge and fun! (When you walk around a home show do you actually remember the differences in the product or do you remember the people who you were talking to?) Besides I have a few older clients who are Vets…you should see their tattoos. In all seriousness I think a child sees much worse in the countless hours in front of the TV watching the cartoon network then they ever see in the 10 seconds while checking out. If we all dressed in suits with our blond hair and blue eyes it would be a very very boring world….

Yes and it would be a very boring world if everyone decided to do things exactly the way you do it.

What you do for the stores you own are specifically for the stores you own. But guess what? Different stores project different images...and how your project the image you want isn't the way another company wants it. So do you throw fits with Disney? They are well known for their very strict dress code. Disney wants to project a certain image and that's the image they choose to project. You don't agree with it, fine...but remember, you don't run the company. You run your own, and your rules are for your company.

Yes, and you sound completely nonjudgmental.

 

[mking624]

For a male wearing a earing! Who would deem that unprofessional now.

Well, your boss for one.

It also depends on the company. But I'd be interested to see which corporate/business professional companies (or sections of companies) that allow earrings on men as part of their dress code policy.