Did you know that about 40 percent of the U.S. population aged 18-34 have a tattoo?
This number has grown from older generations, but also accounts for the changing (or unchanging) opinions about body modifications in the workplace. If you’re in the workforce, chances are you have an opinion on this subject – and your employer likely has a policy on it.
As an artist with a few tattoos and piercings myself, I wanted to look at the statistics around this topic and weigh in.
According to TeamStage, 42 percent of people consider it inappropriate to display tattoos in the workplace and 55 percent feel the same about piercings. Though overall, most managers agree that workplaces are less formal regarding tattoos now than they were even a decade ago.
I began my research for this blog in the steadfast belief that body modifications are not an indicator of one’s ability to perform a job, and I still believe that.
But I’ve realized that in instances where I wouldn’t hold it against others to let a tattoo or piercing show, there are situations where I have covered my own.
In a monthly meeting with one of my clients, my septum ring gets flipped up and out of sight five minutes before my meeting and stays that way until after we’ve parted ways.
In business situations, I often wear slacks that cover the fairy tattoo on my ankle.
Interestingly, I’m not nearly as concerned about my nostril piercing or the set of hearts on my wrist.
Despite my own hang-ups for myself, I do think there’s more progress to be made on body modifications in the workplace. If they are not offensive, hateful, or NSFW (not safe for work), I don’t see any reason why they should be banned.
Before I close this blog, I want to give one more interesting bit of food for thought:
TeamStage reported that about 32 percent of students with higher levels of education have tattoos, compared to 27 percent without college degrees.
Hopefully, we reach a point soon where we recognize body modifications as a form of expression and not as a measure of someone’s intelligence or worthiness as an employee.
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