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Tattoos are a permanent accessory of self-expression that many people display today. However, body art is no fad of our time. In fact, this human tradition can be traced back for thousands of years. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, female mummies in ancient Egypt were adorned with tattoos. Further back, some 5200 years ago, an Iceman exhibited tattoos.

But these traditions did not diminish at mummification or burial. According to a survey conducted in 2006 by the Pew Research Center, 36% of respondents between ages 18 and 25 had at least one tattoo. Forty percent between 26 and 40 said the same.

Stinging Stigmas
From this, the question of appropriateness in the workplace is raised. Are visible tattoos acceptable these days? Or do the taboos of body art still exist at work?

“Years ago you were looked down upon. Tattoos were for people that lived in trailers, or bikers,” medical receptionist at Advanced Orthopedics, Alyse Nola says.

Specifically, tattoos on women carried certain stigmas. It used to be assumed that women with tattoos were either “uneducated or a slut, one or the other…today I don’t think it is,” Sourcing lead of Johnson & Johnson, Desiree Yates explains.

Kim White, Regional Sales manager for Hilti, a power tools company, believes that tattoos are becoming more common; especially in the field she works. “It has become much more mainstream in the last 10 years and I think some of the stigmas of people with tattoos are changing.”

Why is This Trend Happening?
“I feel that more and more jobs are accepting it since the baby-boomer age is retiring and the younger people are taking these positions.” Marisa DeMaio, an Account Representative at Contemporary Bride magazine, says.

Yates believes that as the baby-boomers start to retire, the stigmas and beliefs will retire with them. That is reason number 1—Conservative baby-boomers are on their way out.

Reason # 2
“I certainly think the taboos are going away,” Systems Engineering manager at Telcordia Technologies, Pete Juzva says. “That is probably more of a trend because people now in hiring and firing positions—tattoos were more mainstream when they were growing up,” he continues. The younger HRs grew up with tattoos a big part of their culture. Many of them may even have ink of their own. Yates, among those in upper positions, supports this by noting the greater prevalence of body art and expression in her generation.

Reason # 3
Diversity training. Many companies today have some type of diversity training and anti-discrimination policy. “Large, world-wide, global companies are going to encounter these things and have to accept them.” Yates comments.

Deal Breakers for Job Opportunities?
Not one of the interviewees knew of a company policy against visible tattoos, other than, Niki Vaith, high school English teacher, who was forced to cover up while working at Starbucks in college.

“I have never been denied a position or a promotion because of my tattoo.” Demaio says.

“It would be illegal to ask me to cover them up. My tattoos are no different than my skin color or hair color. No different then a birth mark, beauty mark, mole, scar, piece of jewelry . . .” Yates expounds.

“It’s not the ink that makes the person capable of doing their job. It’s what they know and their attitude,” Juzva says.

The Flip Side
On the contrary, some felt that tattoos were inappropriate at work.

“With shows like Miami Ink, and kick ass women like Kat Vaughandee, everyone wants some ink. Unfortunately, it’s my experience that employers—albeit an older generation, do not find tattoos appropriate for the work place,” Vaith says.

“Times have not changed that much where people are more tolerant,” Patricia Buck, Director of Advanced Physical Therapy says.

HR Manager of Power Survey, Donna Ford believes conspicuous tattoos are never appropriate in the work place. “Even in my current position, very industrial and laid back, I would never come to work with it exposed,” she says.

“ I feel that it’s more appropriate in the workplace when the tattoos aren’t immediately visible,” White notes.

Although companies may not have written policies against tattoos, it may be discouraged. “I personally will not hire anyone with clearly visible tattoos on the face, arms, head, neck. Bottom line is if you have visible tattoos you most likely won’t be hired!” Buck explains.

“There’s a time and a place for everything and an interview is not a place to showcase your tattoos. If it can be covered, cover it,” Ford agrees.

Buck said she has intentionally not hired someone because of his or her visible tattoos.

Exactly How Tolerant Have we Become?
Clearly there are two sides to the argument. But despite the views of the accepting side of the argument, there still seems to be some no-go’s with body art in the workplace.

“My company does not have a policy about tattoos though I am sure if I had my initials or something on my knuckle, or a full-sleeve tattoo that it could be an issue at my job,” Demaio says.

Buck agrees that she does not like “entire bodies, sleeves, or facial tattoos.”

“There might be an issue with facial tattoos. There are no Mike Tyson’s around here anyway.” Juzva jokes.