Tattoos and body piercings accepted into the workplace

In recent years, the commonality of tattoos and body piercings has increased greatly. Body modifications have even become more accepted in the professional atmosphere, which is known for the stigmatization of people with altered appearances.

Despite no direct correlation between a person’s ability to perform a task and the amount of ink or metal in his or her skin, visible tattoos and (non-earlobe) piercings have been a problem for people who go on job interviews in the past

Yet, a consulting firm CEO, John Challenger told Forbes, most employers today would agree that a person’s appearance isn’t nearly as significant as his or her job skills.

“Even in this tight job market, most companies aren’t going to view tattoos too harshly. Companies have a vested interest in hiring the most qualified candidate,” said Challenger.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 24 percent of people 18 to 50 years old have at least one tattoo and 14 percent have a body piercing in a location other than the earlobe. Thirty-four percent had earlobe piercings. Thirty percent of the people with piercings had their first one by the age of 18 and 16 percent with tattoos had their first tattoo by the same age.

However, tattoos and piercings are not a modern invention. In fact, the Smithsonian explained that one of the earliest known tattooed skeletons, known as Iceman, is carbon-dated at 5,200 years old. Not to mention, around 2000 B.C., Egyptian women were tattooed with the image of the dwarf god Bes to protect them and their baby during childbirth.

Cultural practices from the extensive facial and body tattooing of Native Americans, the symbolic religious patterns and images of Greeks and Romans, the pre-Columbian cultural practices of Peru and Chile to the images of mythical creatures on the bodies of the Siberians, noted by the Smithsonian prove tattoos are nothing new.

Though tattoo policies vary depending on occupation, many contemporary work environments have no policy or restrictions on employees tattoos or piercings.

Bank of America Spokeswoman Ferris Morrison explained to Forbes that Bank of America has no written rules or restrictions when it comes to inked corporate employees.

Morrison stated, “We have no formal policy about tattoos because we value our differences and recognize that diversity and inclusion are good for our business and make our company stronger.”

Thankfully having a tattoo or piercing doesn’t ruin your chances of a lucrative career.

For a list of “10 occupations tattoos are accepted in the workplace” and a list of “10 occupations tattoos are not accepted in the workplace” visit Examiner.com.

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