When did it become OK to show off tatoos in the workplace?
 

I work for a pretty conservative firm. Used to be tatoos were kept hidden because they were thought to be "career limiting". Up until a couple of years ago, no one around here sported goatees. Today, I was surprised to see a fella wearing a collarless shirt with the tatoo on his neck clearly visible. I must have not gotten the memo.

Are tats OK were you work?

a tattoo on his neck? his mother would be proud. does it say "cut on dotted line"?

Not in my work place but jeans and flip flops appear to be the norm for consultants

Back in the 90's, we had this one girl right out of college join our engineering group. She always dressed a bit risque, very short skirts, but with leggings all the way up. We would have 2 picnics, one put on by the company and the other by the "Coffee Group". She showed up to the unofficial picnic in even more risque shorts (Think 90's Daisy Dukes) and her legs had several tattoos.

Tats are career limiting, at least here in Houston. I was rebuked for wearing shorts and a Hawiian shirt to work on a Saturday!

I believe it was Brian Setzer (formerly of the Stray Cats) who said that his Dad told him never to have a tattoo where the judge can see it. :>)

About 99% of the people I work with have no idea that I have a tattoo. I think people that conspicuously display tattoos are craving attention.

Mike

Besides the occasional tramp stamps that peek out, there is a guy two floors down from me who has a faded green flame thingy from his wrist to his shoulder on his right arm.

The way I see it, he made a pretty permanent choice in his appearance, and that choice requires long sleeves year round.

My workplace didn't go business casual until 2000, and consultants still wear suits around here...

Same here. Mine is about halfway up the outside of my right thigh... you don't even see it at the beach unless I'm wearing an unfashionably short pair of shorts.

I have a tattoo on the inside of my right forearm and I have a goatee. So far neither seems to have limited me in my career.

I never see them in the office, but there sure are a lot out on the shop floor. Our office is casual in the extreme; shorts and polo shirts, hell even tee shirts, seem to be o.k. even mid-week. I'm old enough to remember when we all looked like Catholic school boys or Mormons on bicycles - shirts and ties all the way, and preferably white shirts. I'm starting to see signs that we might be drifting back that way, at least those who deal with customers, or are in areas where customers frequently come through. Yup, nothing quite like introducing a customer (especially a foreign customer) to an engineer wearing a Black Sabbath tee shirt, baggy jeans shorts, a goatee, earings, and tats... appearances do count, no matter what folks like to think.

Who really gives a crap? I believe in basing peoples' hiring/promotions based solely on performance - not arbitrary crap like dress or body art choices.

As long as they're not obnoxious/distracting, does it really matter?

Same with arbitrary dress code stuff. There are plenty of firms out there that demand you wear a tie, blah, blah, blah. Screw 'em. I find that a happy employee is a productive one. If they have to resort to image over substance is that really a place I'd want to work for anyway? Probably not. Most people in my line of work (professionals) know how to dress so as to not embarass the firm or make an unfavorable impression on clients without being beaten over the head with some B.S. arbitrary standard. On days we have formal client meetings I'll wear nice (khaki, usually) pants and a shirt with a collar. If I'm really feeling ambitious I'll toss on a sport coat. Other than that (for standard "in-the-office" days or days for just quick/informal meetings with clients or consultants) it's jeans and some sort of button-down shirt or polo. What's the problem with this? All our clients love us and our work and nothing has ever been said about it.

I don't have any tattoos though simply for the reason that I can't think of a good reason to get one.

Re: When did it become OK to show off tatoos in the workplace?
 

You're in Kali remember?

That being said, it probably depends on the job that the person has. Janitorial does not get held to the same standard as the boss.

Jeff, that's all fine and good until you lose business because a customer isn't comfortable with the appearance of your staff.

Let me put it this way, would you buy a car from a dealership where the salespeople all wear holey jeans, ripped T-shirts, and and enough piercings to make air travel difficult?

Would you use a realtor who seemed to be wearing the same outfit every day...and smelled like they hadn't changed it in a while?

While performance is certainly important, many people (myself included) won't hesitate to leave a business where I don't feel comfortable--before ever even talking to the staff. First impressions do count, that's the harsh reality.

I believe it does matter if the individual wears inappropriate attire for their work place OR has tats that are on their face/ neck / hands.

I believe that it would be career limiting as most people (like it or not) will judge negatively on the above situations. Unless trhey are asking "do you want to supersize your meal?"

By the way, I have tats (not on my face or hands). I'm a BMW tech by trade and always have a collared shirt tucked into my pants, hair combed and maintain a neat appearence in spite of my environment

+1
Pragmatism, not idealism!

Well, the Army is our main "client", but we have people with tats and others who wear Birkenstocks, jeans, flip flops, etc. I usually wear jeans, and have worn shorts on occasion. And I'm "management." But we are a "creative" institute so we can pull it off...

the people i've met who had to use tats and piercings to 'express themselves' didn't really have a whole lot to express.

Do tats and piercings count as pieces of flair?

If you have at least 15 in combination. But that's the minimum...

hahaha, nice. :)

This seems to be a generational issue. The workplace has the right to set dress codes. If it is not your job to set dress codes then get over it.
I love how mens tatoos are "wild" or "manly", but on women they are "tramp stamps". Sigh... sexism still is accepted, how sad.