Blog 4 - Tattoos and the Work Place

For my fourth blogged I chose to the internet article by Barrie Gross entitled "Tattoos In the Workplace: What’s An Employer to Do?"
This article is written about the changes made in the tattoo culture, which is ultimately affecting the workforce. Gross addresses the historic fact that tattoos use to be associated with “gangs, bikers, and other groups that were thought to operate outside of the social center.” (Though he does not touch upon their historical facts before that point...) Nowadays however, the range of individuals getting tattoos has widened to include, doctors, electrical engineers, teachers, and many other “decent” individuals.
The author argues that because of the shift into acceptance for getting tattoos is has made it difficult for employers to implement rules regarding their employees having them.
“Does having a visible tattoo say anything about an individual that is relevant to his or her job?” The issue is that even though many people are getting tattoos, the work force is not moving in the direction of acceptance as quickly as its workers. Gross ads “The laws still tend to support employer dress code/appearance policies in general and employers retain some flexibility in creating rules that require employees to present themselves in a way that is consistent with the employer's image.” Not hiring someone because of having tattoos could be against the law, but asking them to cover it up is perfectly acceptable. Gross continues in giving examples of times an employer could justify keeping a good employee because they have a job that where they do not have much contact with the public. There in, lies the problem. Smart, well educated and hard working people have tattoos, but now because of their desire to display art on their own bodies, whether appropriate or not, will have the list of jobs available to them, shortened. Gross gives advice to employers of making sure employers apply the same tattoo policy to all employees no matter the person’s situation, in cluding their sex. “Policies that prohibit tattoos should not reflect value judgments about tattoos or the people who get them.” He also ads caution when he states “...an employer can be exposed to liability for sex discrimination if the presence of the tattoo was an issue in making the hiring decision.” For matters concerning the touchy subject of religious tattoos Gross advises an employer seek counsel with their Human Resource department.
Gross is making an argument that displays social significance because it is something affecting many individuals currently who both have tattoos or want to get them and also for employers seeking to hire. Though Gross’s argument is relevant I would have liked him to go into more depth about perhaps how employees could work towards hiring more people with tattoos, not that would jut be hiding form the public, but who work one on one with customers. For example, I for one am a teacher with many tattoos. Are my tattoos violent, no? I have a robot eating an ice cream cone on one arm and a diamond on my ring finger as my engagement ring. However, schools I have taught at have asked me to cover these up so as to not offend parents. This has been difficult to understand when most of my students parents and care givers have in fact had many more tattoos than myself. I always preferred my students know I have tattoo because if someone starts to be open-minded at a young at about tattoos, gay marriage, etc they will make for a more understanding and liberal generation.
A business needs to know its audience/clientele. Tattoos are so widely accepted their are reality television shows about getting them and it is a practiced art of people from all over the world. If more people in general are getting tattoos, wouldn’t it be a positive business move to have employees with non offense tattoos working along those without any tattoos to attract new customers and keep old ones. Personally, I love going to the bank and seeing a teller with tattoos, I’m more likely to go over them to make my transaction. I feel that this person is more open-minded and I’d rather spend my time dealing with my bank transaction with them.

http://www.allbusiness.com/human-resources/workforce-management-employee/4113152-1.html