Dylan Hanson is author of next 2015-2016 MLHS senior student editorial
My Body Is Not My Resumé
Tattoos are a form or art and a way to express yourself. They should be allowed in the workplace as long as they do not slander or offend others.
First off, in my opinion, tattoos don’t describe a person or make them less of a person than anyone else. A lot of people assume that just because someone has a tattoo that it makes them part of a gang, or that it makes them a criminal. Fifty years ago it might have meant that, but today, it is art and self-expression. About 14% of Americans (of all ages) have at least one tattoo, and over 36% of Americans ages 18-40 have a tattoo.Times are changing and now that it is more common to have a tattoo, body art should be allowed in the workplace as long as it isn’t offensive.
Having a tattoo does not make you unprofessional. For example, someone could be the perfect person for a job and have a tattoo that represents a deceased family member and they won’t be hired, but someone without body art is hired because having a tattoo makes workers less professional according to our judgmental society. I find this completely ridiculous.
Secondly, it is assumed that people who get tattoos are rude and mean; it is horrible to see that in today’s world people can judge so easily. Why is it that self-expression can make you lose or not receive a job? For example, it would be as if somebody didn’t like you because you had a different taste in jewelry than they do. They are choosing to like or not like you as a person based on preferences, but that’s how it is for someone with body art.
People have tattoos because they enjoy them or want to express their feelings, and businesses choose to think they are less qualified because they have them. Although some tattoos can have horrible meanings, the could create guidelines so that workers could have tattoos anywhere except on their hands, neck or face in order to have a professional job.
According to allbusiness.com, having a tattoo that is a part of a sincerely-held religious belief or practice that prohibits the employee from covering up the tattoo, is one of the only times an employer may make an exception.
In conclusion, tattoos are just a form of art and self-expression. Most people don’t have tattoos to offend anyone, but just to symbolize something personal. In my opinion, tattoos should be allowed in the workplace because they are a part of our freedom of speech, and companies should not be able to discriminate based on this.