Career Spotlight: Tattoos are showing up all over
Once confined under suits and ties from 9 to 5, tattoos are now out in the open for all to see. Companies such as Ford and Wells Fargo are among employers that allow body art as part of their appearance codes.
Workers are allowed to openly display their tattoos at Yahoo! "We encourage people to bring their personalities to Yahoo!," says company spokesperson Heidi Burgett. "It's kind of a way of life."
Laid-back policies may become more widespread as a younger generation reaches the workforce. Those ages 25 to 29 make up the largest segment of the tattooed population; 36 percent of individuals in this group have one or more tattoos, according to a study by Harris Interactive, compared with 28 percent of 30-to-39-year-olds.
One tattooed 20-something is Dan Marcus, who works at Google in Silicon Valley. He boasts a tattoo bearing a loose resemblance to the Seattle Seahawks logo on his upper arm. While Marcus admits to placing his tattoo where it could be easily covered by a sleeved shirt, he has never had an issue with displaying his tattoo at work.
In part, the growing lenience on tattoos at work reflects the social acceptability of body art. Dennis Dwyer, who heads up the Alliance of Professional Tattooists, says body art has become more mainstream during his 30-year career as a tattoo artist. "There certainly has been an increase in the number of people walking through the door," says Dwyer, who counts several lawyers and doctors among his recent clients.
But companies generally have the final say when it comes to setting reasonable guidelines for dress, except in cases of religious observance. "The courts are siding with employers on this issue," says Patrick Kilker, an employment lawyer with Eckert Seamans, Cherin & Mellott in Pittsburgh. Several employers, particularly those in the service industry like Starbucks and McDonald's, still require that employees cover up tattoos while on the job.
So what do Marcus's coworkers think of their tattooed colleague? "Most people think it's pretty awesome," he says. "Including myself."
Nisha Ramachandran is a U.S. News writer who does not have a tattoo.
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