Are workplace tattoos acceptable?

Tattoos are generally accepted in the workplace as long as they’re not offensive, unprofessional or distracting. 

However, visible tattoos may not be appropriate for every profession. Even if your company allows body art, you may find that customers or coworkers discriminate against tattooed employees.

Can professionals have tattoos?

Tattoos are often completely acceptable in many professional settings, including some positions in the medical and legal fields. As the stigma surrounding body art fades, you may notice more professionals with tattoos. These days, it’s not uncommon to see tattooed lawyers, nurses, doctors and teachers. Workers in leadership roles, such as supervisors and owner-operators, may also have tattoos.

What are the pros and cons of allowing tattoos in the workplace?

Every business has its own company culture, so evaluate the potential pros and cons of hiring professionals with tattoos before you decide.

Pros

• Encourages individuality
• May boost employee morale
• Projects a modern, open-minded company image
• Opens up your hiring pool, potentially helping you find more qualified candidates
• Shows employees that you value skills and credentials more than appearance

Cons

• Some stigma still exists when it comes to professionals with tattoos
• Tattooed workers may face discrimination from colleagues and clients

If you decide tattoos in the workplace are acceptable, consider implementing some guidelines first.

Should you implement a tattoo policy?

Tattoo policies aren’t mandatory, and you may not feel your company needs one. For example, a family-owned business with a handful of workers can probably function without a set policy. Also, a tattoo policy might not be necessary if your team members are on the same page about body art or your customers are fairly laid-back.

Information to consider including in workplace tattoo policies

As an employer, you can generally establish policies regarding personal appearance. However, you must be careful not to discriminate against workers or violate any religious rights.

Your tattoo policy should cover anything that may impact the comfort or performance of other employees. You should also consider how customers might feel about tattooed workers at your business.

Here are four topics you should consider addressing in your workplace tattoo policy.

1. Visible tattoos

Are all tattoos allowed, or are you only okay with ones that aren’t visible? 

Some employers ban tattoos on the face or neck but are okay with other visible ink. If your employees spend the majority of each day behind a desk, you may be okay with tattoos on the legs and feet but not the upper body.

2. Offensive tattoos

Be careful which tattoos your workplace permits, as some body art may make others feel uncomfortable. Ideally, your tattoo policy should ban images or words that promote illegal activities, hate speech or violence.

Here are some examples of potentially offensive body art:

• Tattoos that bash a specific religion, race or gender
• Tattoos with profanity or controversial phrases
• Tattoos that bash or mock your company’s values
• Tattoos of political figures
• Tattoos of weapons or threats of physical or emotional harm
• Tattoos of nudity or sexual innuendos
• Tattoos that promote drug or alcohol use

Think about anything that might upset employees and customers, and consider adding it to the list.

There’s no one-size-fits-all policy for tattoos in the workplace. Consider the brand image and culture of your business, and create guidelines that reflect your company’s identity.