Tattoos in a work place essay

Tattoos of coarse can be done in areas of the body where one can cover them up with clothing. But what about other areas not so easy to cover, areas such as; hands, neck, face, and arms. I have always been told that I must be careful where I decide to place my tattoos, because it can get in the way of me getting a future career. Why? Many Businesses see tattoos as an ‘ unprofessional appearance, and usually have a policy against them. Tattoos are a self representation through art. It is a self expression, and it is something personal. Why should a business get in the way of my personal life choices? I have decided to interview my mother, my boyfriend, and my manager; all who have worked in reflections environment, to see what their point of view is on tattoos in the work place. I first interviewed my mother, who has worked for many companies that require face-to-face interaction with many clients.

My mother is thirty-seven years old. She has her own business that requires her to do people’s taxes, translations, bankruptcies, divorces, and child custody. My mother has four tattoos; one on each of her arms, one Just above her breast, and one on her calf.

I asked my mother at what age she got her first tattoo. And what the reason was for her to decide to get one. “ l got my first tattoo at the age of 29. Decided to get it because I had Just graduated from college and during my four years in school I always prayed to my favorite Catholic saint: Saint Anthony, I always asked him to help me get through school and in return I would show him my gratitude. After graduating, I felt a tattoo of him would be the best way to show that gratitude” (Sure). I then asked my mother how many companies she has worked for that have had a policy against tattoos, she responded with, “ All of them but one.

When I worked for UPS they had no policy against tattoos, just piercing due to safety procedures. Has it been difficult for you to get hired into a company with your tattoos? “ No, because my tattoos are in places I can easily cover. Most companies have a dress code that requires you to dress formal so with formal wear, it covers all” (Sure). Last but not least, do you believe tattoos make someone look unprofessional? “ It does to a certain extent. Something vulgar and inappropriate like a big ‘ F the Law on your forearm won’t give you the best impression with others.

But I think something as innocent as a flower would be Just fine because there isn’t any offense to it” (Sure). My mother is a rule follower so there is no surprise that she’s never had a problem with covering up her tattoos. I thought her reason for her first tattoo was intriguing, and it got me to wonder how many people get tattoos with sentimental value and how many get a tattoo Just for the fun of it. I thought it was interesting to hear about the companies my mom has worked for, almost all having a policy against tattoos. It surprised me because today’s society tends to be Just a tad more open to tattoos than years before. It was more astonishing to hear that many companies continue to following the rules very strictly. My mother is very professional about her work, so there is no surprise that my mom said she had no difficulty finding Jobs that would hire her. I thought she made a good point about the flower having no offense because it is true it is not a common thing to hear someone tell you to cover your flower tattoo because it offends them.

With my mother’s responses, I was able to figure out that she stands on a neutral position in this dilemma. I next decided to interview my boyfriend, Crisis. Crisis is a 6’1″ guy, twenty years of age, with no tattoos, and no piercing. He grew up with a very religious family, who tend a catholic church weekly. I began to ask him if he had planned on getting any tattoos in the near future. “ No. Not at this moment because I don’t want to make a mistake on deciding on a tattoo that will later in the future regret” (Crisis).

I asked him what do he considered to be a mistake? “ A mistake is anything that isn’t thought through thoroughly. For example a girlfriend’s name, not knowing for sure how long the relationship is goanna last. You have to be extremely careful with decisions like this because once it’s on you’re kind screwed with it forever or screwed with a bad immovable scar” (Crisis). Is your Catholic religion against tattoos? “ No not necessarily, there’s a whole bunch of people covered in ink that attend my church, they aren’t treated different. My mom however is against it, she believes what the Bible says when it mentions something about your body being a temple so you must treat it as such” (Crisis). Do you believe that one’s’ body is a temple? Miss I do, because there are many people out there who tattoo the most ridiculous things on their body.

Why would you do that to yourself? It’s humiliating” (Crisis). When in a professional business environment, how do you feel about employees with tattoos? “ If the tattoos are appropriate I have no problem what-so-ever” (Crisis). What do you consider to be appropriate? “ Basically anything that isn’t vulgar and disrespectful” (Crisis). Crisis is a very smart guy, who always thinks things through. I thought it was a good point that he made, that he did not want to make a mistake on deciding on a tattoo. It goes back to my point of people getting tattoos with sentimental value and others just for fun.

I do however believe that Crisis mom had some influence on him with his pinion on tattoos, because although he sometimes is open to tattoos, he criticizes many of them. Whether he is criticizing the appearance of a tattoo, or the placement of it, he will always find something to say about it, usually bad. Crisis however made a similar point to my mother’s; they both mentioned the inappropriateness of a tattoo in the work environment. An inappropriate tattoo is a really good point to consider when working a professional field. Finally, I interviewed my manager Matt. Matt has been manager for Spence’s Gift for five years, he is twenty-five years old.

He has his ears gauged, snake bites on his rower lip, long brown hair that goes down about two inches past his shoulder, and tattoos that cover both arms and legs. Matt has also been manager for KEF. I started with the question of what age he got his first tattoo; he responded with, “ l got my first tattoo at thirteen years old. ” What did you get tattooed? “ l got a peace sign on the side of my leg” (Matt). Why did you get it? “ My friend was doing them for free, and I just thought it would be cool to have” (Matt). Have there been any Jobs that have not hired you because of your tattoos and piercing? Miss, almost all the Jobs I have applied for have a problem with my appearance. If it’s not one thing, it’s the other” (Matt).

Was it difficult for you to receive your position as manager due to your tattoos? No not at all this is Spence’s! We sell the things that make people look like this. If I had any difficulties it was because of my criminal background, not my appearance” (Matt). Do you believe that the work industry would be different for you if you didn’t have tattoos? “ Heck yeah! I wouldn’t still be here. Because of the way I look I know they’re not goanna accept me anywhere, so I’m stuck here. I like the way I kook though, it’s me, who I am. You can’t Just change who you are and how you choose to look Just because others don’t approve” (Matt).

Mat’s responses amused me, my wonder about people who get tattoos for fun came to a conclusion that it does indeed happen, and at a young age too! Like my mother, Matt said many companies have a policy against tattoos. So two people behind a certain point makes me realize that this situation is bigger than I thought. It was not Just with my mother but with Matt too, who has experience in a higher position such as a Manager. Matt mentioning his criminal record reminded me of owe tattoos received their bad reputation to begin with.