"My tattoos don't make me any less good at what I do," writes early career coach Angela Richard. It's an opinion echoed by myriad tattooed professionals on LinkedIn, many of whom say they've been advised to conceal their ink in the workplace. But might those norms be evolving? Consultant Annie Wang believes so. "For a long time, professionalism came with a pretty narrow visual template, but I think that is changing," she says. "To me, professionalism is about the quality of your work, the rigor of your thinking."
The story appears to be fake. But the hiring questions are very real.
I found a post circulating online that claims a woman with extensive face tattoos was rejected during a job interview and told she “looked like a school desk.” I don’t even know what that means…but okay…
Apparently, AI is now creating its own employment disputes. As if we needed more AI slop.
Still, the story raises a question worth discussing: Can an employer refuse to hire someone because of face tattoos?
For many employers, that would be a definite no. Especially if the position is customer-facing.
But before delivering that “no,” here are a few things to consider:
• Generally, employers can set appearance or dress code standards. Tattoos alone are not a protected characteristic under federal employment discrimination law. Restrictions on visible tattoos are generally permissible, but they should be applied consistently and cannot be a cover for unlawful discrimination.
• The job can make a difference. An employer may have different appearance or dress code standards for a receptionist than for someone working behind the scenes, such as in a warehouse. But “customer-facing” is not a free pass around discrimination laws.
• A protected status can change the answer. For example, tattoos may have religious significance or reflect cultural and ancestral traditions. If a tattoo or keeping it visible is tied to a sincerely held religious belief or practice, a covered employer may need to accommodate it unless doing so would create undue hardship.
And whatever the hiring decision, leave the commentary about a person’s appearance out of the interview even if it’s not a tattoo.
Having an appearance or dress code policy is one thing, but assuming a tattoo or their appearance tells you how someone will perform is another.
HR professionals, hiring managers, and business owners: Are face tattoos a hard no in your workplace? Would a customer-facing role change your answer? Should it?
Blazer and buttoned up? Professional.
Sleeveless shirt? Still professional.
I’ve gotten comments about my tattoos at work.
I’ve been told I should be careful how often I show them, where I let them be visible, and when it’s “appropriate” to show them.
Breaking news: my tattoos don’t make me any less good at what I do.
In fact, I think they make me a better professional 💁🏻♀️
Tattoos in corporate… 💭
Because this is always a first thought of mine whenever starting a new role or working in the industry I’m in…
Curious to hear people’s thoughts on tattoos in the corporate world.
I have two full sleeves, a leg sleeve, one behind my ear, hands/fingers, and plenty of others in places I probably shouldn’t mention on LinkedIn. 😅
At the end of the day, tattoos to me have always been a part of how I have expressed myself, but I’ve often wondered how they’re perceived in most professional spaces, like conferences, customer-facing roles, etc.
I have a sense that the workplace culture is continuing to evolve around tattoos and accept more ways of self-expression, but I have to ask…
Are *visible* tattoos viewed differently in corporate settings, or has that stigma disappeared?
Let’s hear it!👇