FabSwingers.com forum: visible tattoos in the workplace

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

just been reading about a girl with a tattoo on her hand who was turned down for a job at iceland.

although i have several tattoos, i make sure that i can cover them if necessary.

i use common sense. if i am temping, i make sure my arms are covered, and then they wouldn't know they're there.

this takes me back 25 years to when i had an interview arranged with my local tesco and i had my hair cut for the occasion. however my hairdresser got carried away and I came of the salon with a crop cut.

the interviewer told me they didnt employ punks!

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By *mf4BxJCouple
over a year ago

edinburgh

I'm not a fan of tattoos on the hand. It wasn't that long ago a reputable artist wouldn't tattoo hands or above the neck but that's all out of the window now!

Personally, I love tattoos have a few myself, but all in areas they can't be flaunted when I want and covered when needed.

I know of several retail chains that won't allow tattoos to be on show and get staff to cover with bandages/plasters etc which does look a bit odd but their store their rules I guess.

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By *mf4BxJCouple
over a year ago

edinburgh

*can be flaunted!

Note to self - proof read!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I used to work for Iceland back in my student days (classy i know won me loads of admirers

)

They are one of the strictist companies I have worked for regarding things like that...when I was there was a sacking for lip piercing, one for a tongue piercing and 3 for tattoos! But the manager was more than happy to employ young girls who showed their thongs

he was a pig perv!

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By *edangel_2013Woman
over a year ago

southend

Its becoming a common problem. A lot of people, mainly young women are getting tattoos on their wrists and hands where they are visible and not so easy to cover up. Mostly they are in college, and not really thinking about future employment.

Although if Iceland stated the reason as her tattoo, they were pretty silly, because there has been cases of people then complaining about discrimination over tattoos, and winning.

If you don't like tattoos, and don't think they suit the business, at least come up with another excuse, lack of qualifications / experience etc.

I have loads of tats, but all of mine are easily covered up, and as much as I would love one on my wrist, I also love being able to work to afford them!!

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By *scottMan
over a year ago

Uttoxeter

People will make their own judgements. For me my tattoos are covered unless I decide to show them. Even my wrist tattoo is hiden by my watch. If fact at chams is about the only time they are on show. Oh and on my profile lol.

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By *ENGUYMan
over a year ago

Hull

Only in the past week, I was at my local Job Centre, where there was a guy moaning to one of the advisors about the lack of jobs etc., despite him getting interviews!

But to look at him, well, maybe if he looked in the mirror, he might realise why!

His entire head was covered in tattoos; he was bald, so the tattoos went over his entire head!

A walking piece of art in some ways, but to me, the initial effect was scary, even a bit negative. He might be a really nice guy, but his physical presence was off-putting.

Let's put it this way, heads turned as he left the building, raising a mix of comments!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It does show a certain individuality and in some professions, when wearing a uniform especially, you are representative of that organisation as a whole.

Imagine a District Nurse turning up to dress a leg ulcer with a tattoo sleeve showing and lip piercings. Now she can still do her job and still give the level of care expected, but it just doesnt look right.

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By *carletRomanceCouple
over a year ago

glasgow

For many people tattoos are a lifestyle choice. There are other lifestyle choices it is illegal to discriminate against. I have known a girl to have a hard time at work because of her tats but others are allowed layers (we're talking orange here) of fake tan. Other places where the dictate what colour you can dye your hair (blonde/brown/black is ok but not red).

End of the day we think it's simply wrong to dictate how others look.

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By *mf4BxJCouple
over a year ago

edinburgh

"For many people tattoos are a lifestyle choice. There are other lifestyle choices it is illegal to discriminate against. I have known a girl to have a hard time at work because of her tats but others are allowed layers (we're talking orange here) of fake tan. Other places where the dictate what colour you can dye your hair (blonde/brown/black is ok but not red).

End of the day we think it's simply wrong to dictate how others look."

I agree with you to a certain extent. The free spirit in me wants to say yeah, people should be allowed to wear and have what they want but living in a society comes with the expectation that social norms will be met. I think these expectations are becoming more liberal as time moves on and will continue to do so.

I wouldn't feel odd about a nurse with tattoos treating me or a loved one. Some people do though.

I think places like iceland need to take a look at themselves though - really it's a frozen food shop which until very recently had a tattoed head of a chav promoting it!

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By *carletRomanceCouple
over a year ago

glasgow

End of the day we think it's simply wrong to dictate how others look.

I wouldn't feel odd about a nurse with tattoos treating me or a loved one. Some people do though.

I think places like iceland need to take a look at themselves though - really it's a frozen food shop which until very recently had a tattoed head of a chav promoting it!

Bx"

I think I would rather enjoy being looked after by a tattooed nurse...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Tattoos don't bother me at all but someone in the nursing profession with piercings everywhere wouldn't instill in me the sterile cleanliness my mind associates with medicine. It took a long time for doctors to admit that moving from patient to patient without washing their hands was a major contributing factor in the high mortality rates in hospitals in the 19th/20th Centuries.

Women gave birth at home, with all the risks that entailed, because they knew there was a strong chance that going into hospital in those days was a one way journey.

Piercings are known bacteria collectors and I wouldn't permit a nurse who has them, other than earrings, to treat myself or my children.

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By *mf4BxJCouple
over a year ago

edinburgh

I bet!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Have spent a day each week in the local Jobcentre, it's reminiscent of walking into the Star Wars Cantina! Punk Hair, tatts, piercings, and that's just the bouncers on the doors!

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By *ittlemorespiceCouple
over a year ago

North Cornwall

Get real! In this world everyone is judged on how they appear, no doubt if the job were in a tattoo parlour the tattoo would not have been a problem. Employers base what they are looking for on their customers responses. If you dont want to limit your employment choices dont get things tattooed or pierced where they show. Is this fair? Well life isnt 'fair' is it? Its tough out there, even tougher for those who live in their ideal little world thinking they shouldnt be judged while everyone around them is. My daughter didnt get the nose stud she wanted because of career choices. Thats life!

Mistress x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Tattoos don't bother me at all but someone in the nursing profession with piercings everywhere wouldn't instill in me the sterile cleanliness my mind associates with medicine. It took a long time for doctors to admit that moving from patient to patient without washing their hands was a major contributing factor in the high mortality rates in hospitals in the 19th/20th Centuries.

Women gave birth at home, with all the risks that entailed, because they knew there was a strong chance that going into hospital in those days was a one way journey.

Piercings are known bacteria collectors and I wouldn't permit a nurse who has them, other than earrings, to treat myself or my children."

Wishy you are 100% right, nurses shouldn't have facial piercings, wear any stoned rings or jewelly such as watches or bracelets and fake or long nails as bacteria collects in these and prevents good handwashing, so I'd refuse treatment from a nurse. Visible tattoos would also have me thinking about their HepB status and so I wouldn't feel comfortable with anyone in the nursing profession having visible tattoos that give rise to questions. Of course I've no doubt nursing staff have their immunisation status up to date but I wouldn't want that extra worry if I was ill anyway

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By *iamondsmiles.Woman
over a year ago

little house on the praire

The advice i gave my son regards tattoo's was none on the hands, neck or face, so that if need be they can be covered by long sleeves. He has took that on board.

One of my friends has a daughter who is a very attractive young thing but on her face she has a diamond, heart, spade and club (small) tattooed on her face and i just thing in my opinion its the worst thing ever

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By *carletRomanceCouple
over a year ago

glasgow

Women gave birth at home, with all the risks that entailed, because they knew there was a strong chance that going into hospital in those days was a one way journey.

Piercings are known bacteria collectors and I wouldn't permit a nurse who has them, other than earrings, to treat myself or my children.

As far as Health and Safety is concerned then limits and rules are fine, they make sense.

But people with visable tattoos make you think of HepB? Would you refuse treatment from a gay nurse because you were scared of AIDS?

But a boss at somewhere like Iceland, giving unfair treatment because of a tattoo. That's discrimination - it's offensive. My body, my rights.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If you are working with the public there is a dress code and it can include no piercings or visible tattoos. If its a back office job then i don't see why it should matter.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My Director once said that to not allow somebody to have their hair dyed or have tattoos etc was to stifle their creativity. No matter what job you're in, your creativity should be allowed to exist and helps you to express yourself, feel confident, suggest improvements or alterations and to think 'outside the box'.

I was very pleased to hear this since I have 3 tattoos and have had red hair.

All of my tattoos are in places that can be covered up when required however this decision was not made with future employment in mind. I chose to do this so that when I'm old and wrinkly and possibly come to dislike my tattoos, I can easily cover them up if I choose.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Bear in mind, piercings can easily be removed and replaced after work if needed. Or concealed depending on their location.

All of my tattoos are easily hidden due to the nature of my job. Not through careful thought, but luck more than anything. There are also easy ways of concealing prominent tattoos, (Tat jackets etc) so there is (nearly) always a way to do your job without letting body mods affect it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

But people with visable tattoos make you think of HepB? "

Yep it would, many tattoo studies are unregulated in relation to their decontamination practice. Thats why when going to a tattooist, then go for the most expensive you can afford. Check out their work but also the surroundings they are working in. They may decontaminate equipment, but can we be sure they are not placing sterile equipment onto surfaces which havent been sterilised, therefore re-contaminating the equipment. And can we be sure that tattoo artists are not placing unused ink back into the larger vats to save on cost. All unused ink should be thrown away, its likely to contain blood, by placing it back in the large vat of ink, contamination of the whole ink occurs. And can we be sure they are using a new pair of gloves every time they tattoo a new person.

We assume that tattoo premises are inspected for hygiene standards to the same degree a clinical room is, that is not the case, and some procedures are invasive. Most good tattooists will want to do the best for their customers and will adhere to rules of good hygiene, but with the demand and fashion for tattooing being mainstream now, there are premises being opened who are not so vigilent.

Its got nothing to do with people being gay.

Now of course medical staff will have up to date immunisation, but I think a body full of tattoos does not give a good impression in some professions.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

And dont forget, the older ya get ...the worse they look. Get to about 70 and all ya left with is a big smudge

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By *im halpertMan
over a year ago

redditch

"I used to work for Iceland back in my student days (classy i know won me loads of admirers

)

he was a pig perv!"
I worked for iceland in 1989 for a year ,they were awful!a supervisor was balncing everyones tills daily ,my was constantly short,turned out she was stealing,out of my till ,tried to be heavy handed with me,the manager was a sleaze too!!!!

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By *iggles and BeardyCouple
over a year ago

Bristol

Was amazed while doing an Sia course, how many of the people doing it had neck or hand tattoos of canabis leaves.. One guy even seemed to find it a challenge to not stink of or get caught with it.

That and comment like "I always get refused entrance to clubs" realy made me wonder why they thought a club who won't allow them in, would ever want to hire them as door staff.

Still supose on a drugs bust it would make police job easier.. sombody is dealing "ohh look the doormans coved in canabis tats and stinkks of " job done.

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By *strahurstMan
over a year ago

eastbourne

I deal with people with tattoos all the time so they don't bother me. In this day and age, where most people have tattoos, I think employers need to be a bit more flexibile.

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By *iggles and BeardyCouple
over a year ago

Bristol

all my tattoos are easily hidden, I just find it anoying at the job centre that I get a ton of "what are you doing to find work" questions. While the guy before me with tattoos all over his hands neck and face, get "sign here please" and politely told see you in two weeks.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"And dont forget, the older ya get ...the worse they look. I'm about 70 and love a big fudgepacker

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Piercings are known bacteria collectors and I wouldn't permit a nurse who has them, other than earrings, to treat myself or my children....

hey I like a pierced clit too!!!!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If that is the rules laid down by Iceland, then that is the rules and if you have a visible tattoo you don't get a job simple as that - Like it or not it's their citeria for selecting potental employees and at least they were honest with the candidate, lets face it, they could have allowed her to continue with the interview and asessment then told her that she simply wasn't succesful, wasting her time and theirs. At least they nipped it in the bud and told her the honest reason why not ..

This woman in question, according to the media, seems to think that she should have been the exception to the rule.

Why .... ?

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By *he_original_poloWoman
over a year ago

a Primark shoebox in Leicester

People are free to look how they want… they can cover themselves in tattoos, in piercing or body modification (plates in their lips and horns on their head etc)…. and so they should be allowed to.

However, employers are allowed to refuse you employment if it breaks their rules; and if you change your appearance whilst in their employ they have every right to terminate your contract.

Tattoos are NOT covered by any anti-discrimination legislation. If you read the section of the Act which covers disfigurement it specifically states they are not.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

In my first job, females were not allowed to wear trousers in the workplace.

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By *emima_puddlefuckCouple
over a year ago

hexham

But people with visable tattoos make you think of HepB?

Its got nothing to do with people being gay.

Now of course medical staff will have up to date immunisation, but I think a body full of tattoos does not give a good impression in some professions.

Very good advice.When i decided on my tattoo there was only one place i would go,which had been recommended to me by my Master.In terms of hygiene it was spotless and when i returned for my nipple piercing being sterile was clearly a great concern.

Interestingly i am healing without the problems a number of friends have had,which i put down to the quality of the place i visited.

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