When you go to a place of business and find that the person taking care of you has visible tattoos, does it matter to you? Does it make you uncomfortable or does it make no difference to you?
As an employer, would you hire someone with tattoos on their head, face or neck? Tell us in the comment section below.
On Sunday, The Morning Call ran a story about the confluence of two trends: a lack of employment and an abundance of tattoos among 20- and 30-somethings. More and more young people are finding that they are being denied employment because they have visible tattoos.
In one case, detailed by the newspaper, a college student from Bethlehem was denied a job as a ride operator at Dorney Park because of a tattoo on the back of her neck.
Does that seem fair to you? Tell us in the comments section.
Crystal Winters
10:55 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
I hate tatoos, hate looking at them and definately don't want anybody in the food industry to wait on me if they have visible tatoos or piercings. They are unprofessional in ANY workplace and should always be covered. Piercings should be removed! Tatoos were used as a way to "identify a body" when they would find a murdered postitute and/or men in the service would get them. Other than, that they have been and will always be considered LOW CLASS.
Sheriffchris
11:00 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012
They do not call them "TRAMP STAMPS" for nothing. Many of the men in Special Forces in Nam got a particular tatoo to identify them as being part of that special group. I really have mixed thoughts about them on men, but on women, I find them mostly disgusting.
Ron Beitler
12:47 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
We have one employee (Weddings and Events company) who has tattoos and a facial piercing. She is a great DJ. One of the best female ones in the area in my opinion. Clients know ahead of time her 'alternative' look. (and really it's a small piercing, it's not too out there) Have I had clients before requesting someone else because of this? Yes. But most of the time they are OK.
I totally though respect clients who have an issue. It's their right to request someone else. That being said, I really couldn't hire another person with the same look. I have to have a mostly clean cut crew for the instances where people do mind.
I'm saying this because employers should absolutely have the right to not hire someone because of tattoos. Esp in the service industry. My company doesn't have a problem with it, I don't have a problem with it, but SOME clients do.
I understand Dorney Park's policy. People trust ride operators for safety reasons. Right or wrong some people have negative perceptions. And because of that, Dorney should have the right to vet candidates for jobs based on appearance.
Dorney park isn't the villian in this situation they're just doing what they have to until if and when people's perception ever change.
Mrs. B
7:36 pm on Saturday, June 2, 2012
Not quite sure what issue their is with tattoos in the service industry. They are just ink imbedded in the skin, its not like the ink is gonna fall off in the food or that tattoos can't be cleaned as well as your hands. I believe if the tattoos are not vulgar or indecent, there is nothing wrong with it. I have 1 tattoo on my shoulder with my children's names on it and I am far from being a criminal, a "tramp" or low class. They are artistic, they make you unique, and there is a thrill in getting one just as there is going down the 1st hill of a roller coaster..... my cousins are all tattooed and peirced up and they cover their tattoos with long sleeves or bandages or even those sweat bands. As for peircings, that I can understand being a safety issue in the food industry as peircings can become infected and drain. But peircings can be taken out for work, and even put a spacer in (which is a plastic clear piece to mask the peircing without risking it closing). Anyway, peircings and tattoos show individuality and I believe as long as they can be covered or masked, there should be no problems. And as for sanitary issues, you can't not hire someone for having the common cold, which is contagious, so why wouldnt you hire someone with a appropiate tattoo which can not be transmitted??? As for getting HIV and Hepititis from receiving a tattoo, 9 times out of 10, people will pay for a tattoo at a shop where sanitary and disinfection is thei number 1 priority.
Christopher-Amelie Gort
11:23 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
You can find an interesting study about racial prejudice on youtube "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQACkg5i4AY";
I think that this is the same issue that people like Crystal Winters is dealing with.
Christopher-Amelie Gort
11:33 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
@ Crystal Winters - Should teeth be removed? Correct me if I'm wrong but I think that they are used to identify the dead.
As for tattoos being "LOW CLASS", I suggest that you look into all of the UPPER CLASS people (such as yourself, I am sure) that have had tattoos throughout the past. Check out the last three paragraphs of this article ---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_tattooing#Reintroduction_in_the_Western_world.
As for me, I understand that tattoos may not be an accepted thing in every industry and that is why the majority of my tattoos are non-visible tattoos, does that mean that I think it should stay that way? No. I truly feel sorry for people like Crystal Winters who fill there heart and mind with hate and leave no room for love. It is the same as any prejudice and is due to a lack of education as you can see in the video I posted above about racial prejudice. If we don't teach our kids then society will.