Policy on tattoos and piercings?
Question: “After we hired someone, we found out that she had a snake tattoo down
her arm. Plus, she’s now wearing a tongue ring which she did not have
in when we interviewed her. My question is: Can we ask her to remove
the tongue piercing during working hours and wear a long sleeve blouse
or sweater to cover the tattoo while she is at work?” — Faye, PA
YES
Posted by: Marly | September 04, 2007 at 01:44 PM
Yes. In addition, a review and update of company policy might be warranted. Including a sentence such as “visible body piercings or tattoos are not acceptable office attire” would address both piercings and tattoos.
Posted by: Patty | September 04, 2007 at 01:49 PM
I would first have to ask, what is your line of business?
If your new hire is working directly with the public, and you feel these would interfere with your sales, yes, you could ask her to cover up and remove the tongue ring.
If however, she is working in a tatoo parlor, a warehouse or factory environment, what would be the harm. Youth today, think we are old fashioned and behind the times with our conservative feelings regarding tatoos or body piercings. I personally find them revolting, but wouldn’t walk away from a purchase because of them.
Posted by: Mary | September 04, 2007 at 04:36 PM
While I agree that company policy should be reviewed, I’d be a bit more specific in ban on piercings and tattoos. Case in point, you can’t eliminate visible “body” piercings when more than 80% of women have their ears pierced. Likewise with tatoos, there are some, maybe not as much as 80%, women who have permanent eyebrows tatood on. The conflict arises when these things become offensive.
Posted by: Kia | September 05, 2007 at 06:03 AM
You need a company policy that addresses the issue across your workforce. Making sure that the policy is reasonable, and addresses a business purpose or concern. That allows you to manage the issue, not react to an issue. Careful on stepping on moral or political issues, but focus on business issues.
Posted by: jh | September 05, 2007 at 06:44 AM
We are in a consertive business in property management and make sure during interviews that we advise them of our constant contact with our customers and our very conservative dress code of business level or uniforms. If any male shows with earing, we make them aware of it be specifically in our guidelines as being offensive to our customers, the same goes tat’s must be covered, and we don’t allow smoking or strong cologne/perfume since some customers are bothered. We are service first and our customers can set our guideliness. We make it well known before hire and catch breaks in policy the first day.
Posted by: CF | September 05, 2007 at 01:51 PM
Yes – if the employee is working with the public.
It should be a company policy and/or included in the final interview process stating all tattoos be covered and tongue rings will need to be removed during working hours.
Most candidates cover the tattoos and removed the tongue rings for the interview.
Posted by: dottie | September 05, 2007 at 05:17 PM
A comment was posted about tattoos and piercing I noticed they said that they were a conservative business in property management, and that they didint let there employees smoke or wear strong cologne/perfume since some customers were bothered. How could you say that if you dont receive a complaint from that specific customer I dont think you somone wouldnt want you to manage their property because you had on nice cologne really think you need to check out your employee policy handbook to CYA.
Posted by: moe | September 11, 2007 at 01:27 PM
Yes! Absolutely. It is inappropriate to diplay body piercings and tatoos in an office setting.
Posted by: JC | September 12, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Yes, But it does depend on your type of business. No piercings in the office setting or tattoos, but other places have become more lenient. More women are getting lips and brows and eyeliner tattooed so you have to be careful with wording in your policy.
Posted by: Mary Roth | September 25, 2007 at 01:45 PM
Posted by: Mary Roth | September 25, 2007 at 01:46 PM