When is a visible tattoo too visible for a hiring manager?

A while ago I wrote a post titled ‘Would you hire someone with a visible tattoo?’ - and (unsurprisingly I guess) it still gets a load of traffic every single week. This is a question that comes up regularly with companies as they try to deal with the more and more people that now have tattoos.

Now I am a fan of good ink, and while I do have a couple myself, you would never know it. And for me I guess that is the point for an employer. Tattoos hidden under normal clothing are one thing, but tattoos visible to their customers and clients take a little more acceptance.

Yesterday I was doing some work on career sites and came across this disclaimer/question on the Center Parcs application form:

Now the magic question is this: what happens if someone ticks one or all of the boxes? Do they fail to get the job? What do you think?

The problem here of course is context. Obviously a big facial tattoo is probably not going to get you the job! But they don’t ask what the tattoo is, how big it is or even ask for a photo (ok, probably not easy to manage!), but even if a candidate has a tiny wrist tattoo, they have to admit it, for fear of not getting a job (don’t they?) Is there a difference below for you? They are both wrist tattoos, but is one more acceptable for companies than the other? Or are they both treated the same way?

What do you think? Would these be acceptable for your company? Alternatively as a recruiter, would you even bat an eyelid with these types of tattoos?

It is the first time I have seen this type of question, posed in this way on an application process. I am just wondering now if this will become more normal over the years to come?

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LordManley

Whilst I would never look at someone’s tattoos as a reflection on their professional abilities, I can see that for the authenticity of the ‘family’ atmosphere at Center Parcs there may be a valid GOQ for non-tattooed (or pierced) public facing, front-of-house staff.

I do not think that the distinction between facial piercings which are ‘religious’ and those which are merely cultural is a valid one and I am absolutely certain that anyone who had a predominantly back-room role would be able to dispute the GOQ and that it would be pretty indefensible at that juncture.

Indeed, were I of a less moral mettle, I think I would peradventure apply just to sue them 😉
Julia Briggs

Yep, it’s going to be hard to discriminate - particularly if it is a spectacularly unpleasant tattoo that they had when they were young and perhaps now regret. Age discrimination. Seriously. Went to a talk on trends in employment law last night by a very eminent QC and the recourse to law is pretty extensive with lots of discrepancies between employment law (and what you can claim in a tribunal) and if you take it as contract law and go to a normal court - which the government could address but fail to do so. Look out for some jaw dropping cases and awards. This kind of situation is ripe for exploitation by unscrupulous potential employees.

As his tattoo says -‘game over’.
Bradley Atterberrry

You’re right it is difficult to manage and it all comes down to personal preface of the hiring manager. Personally, if you sport visible tattoos just be prepared to heavily discriminated in the workplace. Even if the hiring manager isn’t saying it with his/her mouth they’re probably thinking it.
Steve Ferris

I would also add, it also depends on the type of industry the candidate is going to work in. For instance, these days a vast number of Premiership Footballers have ‘sleeve’ tattoos and yet they are in the public domain, however, it is not frowned upon.

Yet, I am sure a high class hotel would find a way not to employ a capable candidate if they had a similar style of tattoo. As with any job you go for you should look right for the job as much as be able to do the job. I would add that I do have a tattoo, but like Andy’s it is not visable.