Gerald Sastra/The Cougar
The latest technology of execs are confronted with a dilemma in terms of coming into the workforce: seen tattoos. Tattoos are sometimes seen as unprofessional by employers, however this narrative is outdated and younger persons are prepared for it to be thrown out.
In a 2012 USA Today article, senior lawyer advisor on the Equal Employment Alternative Fee, Justine Lisser mentioned that employers are allowed to ban seen tattoos as a part of their gown code. The one exception being non secular beliefs.
With guidelines like this in place, employers have the facility to discriminate in opposition to candidates for expressing themselves. They both must take heed to the place they place their tattoos or take the time to maintain them coated whereas on the job.
There’s a brand new technology coming into the workforce, and the norms are beginning to change. Individuals are getting tattoos now greater than ever. As of 2014, 40 percent of American households embody somebody with a tattoo.
The suitable response to an elevated variety of folks getting tattoos needs to be a change within the guidelines to accommodate extra candidates. Tattoos are private; it’s pointless to guage an individual based mostly on their chosen technique of expression.
Individuals are inspired to search out themselves throughout their school years. This transformative time usually leads to everlasting selections like getting a tattoo.
Sarcastically, it additionally serves as a time to organize younger adults for his or her profession paths. They don’t deserve to search out themselves at a crossroads between who they’re and the job they want to have.
Jason Hankins, 20, is a junior at UH finding out psychology with desires of turning into a doctor someday though he’s “extensively tattooed.”
When requested about tattoos and the way they relate to professionalism, he spoke very passionately.
“If somebody is able to doing their job, why does look matter,” Hankins mentioned. “Though I can perceive why employers could want to have consumer going through staff with out tattoos, I don’t assume it’s essential.”
Regardless of his concrete stance in favor of tattoos within the office, Hankins did take into account his future earlier than getting tattooed.
“I made a decision in opposition to tattooing my fingers and neck for the aim of my future profession,” Hankins mentioned.
As we speak’s societal norms have pressured Hankins into stifling his love for tattoos. He shouldn’t must really feel much less revered in his profession area for having the arrogance to be his genuine self.
Not all tattoos are acceptable or have a deep symbolic that means, and there needs to be guidelines in place in opposition to vulgar physique artwork within the skilled setting. However because it stands as we speak, all tattoos appear to be deemed unprofessional.
Folks shouldn’t be confronted with the selection of getting their dream job and expressing themselves by physique modification. Tattoos will not be the measure of somebody’s dependability or talent.
Employers ought to admire individuality and the braveness it takes to get a tattoo and put on it proudly. Tattoos don’t decide professionalism, folks do.
Jordan Hart is a journalism junior who could be reached at [email protected]
