Tattoos Becoming More Accepted At Work

As Dress Codes Become More Lax, So Are Rules About Body Art

(CBS)  There was a day when wearing a tattoo or body piercing drew stares and looks of disdain, but these days body art has broken out of the biker bars and headed into the mainstream. It's even showing up in the workplace.

Tattoos and piercings are just not the career killers they once were. Many companies in all industries have no problem with body art. Employees of all walks of life are sporting body art nowadays from doctors' office receptionists to TV news anchors. Even those who are prepping the workforce of the future: college educators. The Army and Navy have also relaxed their tattoo policy on worries over a lack of recruits.

"It's an intellectual and upscale phenomenon," Ina Saltz, who photographed hundreds of tattoos for her book, "Body Type," told CBS News correspondent Susan McGinnis. "People are choosing to get tattooed who are professionals. Every kind of profession you can imagine has a tattoo."

New research finds 23 percent of college students have one to three tattoos, 51 percent are pierced beyond women's ears and 36 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds have tattoos. Tattoo artists say they see all types of customers.

"We go from artists and younger people all the way to doctors, lawyers, architects. So it's pretty cool," said Claire Vuillemot, a tattoo artist at Fun City Tattoo.

Courtney Pecola, a native of New Hampshire, is clearly proud of her roots. She has a tattoo of New Hampshire's lilacs across her chest and her area code, 603, on her wrist. She never thought twice about it and neither did her boss. When she interviewed at ZB Sports in Philadelphia, her boss didn't either. He hired her to be a vice president.

"He's fine with it. I mean, it's never been a problem," she said. "He's always stood by me, even if I get a really stupid tattoo."

"Courtney is one of the brightest women I've ever met. She's fast, she's smart," Pecola's boss, Jim Hoisington, said. "If I passed on her because of her tattoos, I'd be out one phenomenal employee."

That kind of thinking has led to a very colorful workforce at ZB Sports.

"It really wasn't an issue," ZP Sports employee Eric Andrewson said. "He didn't act like it was strange and I didn't act like it was strange."

This small Internet retailer is part of a bigger trend in the American workforce. Dress codes are easing up, and body art is coming out of hiding. Some managers say they have no choice.

"It has to change, otherwise they're going to be out of a workforce," Hoisington said.

But not everyone agrees body art works at work, especially in corporate environments. Still, Hoisington welcomes the trend. He thinks body art is a sign of a special employee.

"Because you don't like it or it offends you or you're conservative in the workplace, I think you'll miss a whole talent pool of people who are very bright well educated, smart and free thinking," he said. "It's a shame. You never want to do that. You have to evolve."

[grimmsgirl]

To carpediem25:

Well said. Stay safe and thank you. =-)

[carpediem25]

I have a few comments I would like to add to this discussion. For one I am heavily tattoed and I proudly serve my nation as a soldier. I fight for the freedoms that most Americans enjoy. When I leave the Army one day will I be rewarded for my service by ignorant people that will judge me based on the colors on my skin. I don't have a college degree, but I am working on one. I hope that after defending the freedoms of the U.S. that one day I will be able to enjoy them. Tattoos do not make a person, neither does color, creed or race. These same people that judge based on a tattoo need to take a deeper look at theirselves. We are not freaks, body modification comes in different forms. Make up is a modification even though it isn't pernament. Working out with weights at the gym is a body mod like it or not. Are these athletes looked at as freaks because their bigger than other people? I believe most people that sit back and judge others are insecure with theirselves, and I hope the best for them. Maybe one day tattooed people will be looked at as normal and virgin skin will be freakish. Till then I wear my skin and ink proudly....by the way I love the Needled blog and I read it on a daily basis, keep up the good work

[thrustinj]

Tattoos signify the past.
They have presence.
They speak volumes about their wearers. Good and bad.
They are sentimental. Personal keepsakes.
They are spur of the moment.
They are memorials. Life-long.
They are art. Beautiful and abstract.
They are culture.
They are deeper than written words.
They are truer than photos.
They are tears and sweat and pain.
They commemorate friendships.

[thrustinj]

Tattoos signify the past.
They have presence.
They speak volumes about their wearers. Good and bad.
They are sentimental. Personal keepsakes.
They are spur of the moment.
They are memorials. Life-long.
They are art. Beautiful and abstract.
They are culture.
They are deeper than written words.
They are truer than photos.
They are tears and sweat and pain.
They commemorate friendships.

[grimmsgirl]

You are so right Skye. A tattoo says nothing about the type of work a person does. I actually do have several tattoos that are beyond my work clothes and my boss and co-workers have all come to except them because of the type of person I am as well as the good work I do.
I failed to mention in my first post that my tattoo artist husband has a bachelors degree in fine arts as well as being a successful business owner. He, along with his family, started one of the first homeless shelters in his town and always tries to give back to the community in thanks for all the good that has come his way. We lead such a "normal" life it may surprise people. Step out of your box and stop judging us by the COLORS OF OUR SKIN. I would really like to know what states these "anti-tattoo" people are from and exactly what "management" jobs they hold.

[shopfortat]

Sorry for the dupes. My comment wasnt appearing, so I tried again. Having a blonde day I guess:)

Skye

[shopfortat]

Lots of girls have tattoos in places just a little beyond where workplace clothes are. For some of us, its a private thing. For others, its not. Either way, I don't think it says anything about the kind of job I do at work. If you think it does, why would I want to work for you?

Skye
shopfortattoos.com

[shopfortat]

Lots of girls who have tattoos in places just a little beyond where workplace clothes are. For some of us, its a private thing. For others, its not. Either way, I dont think it says anything about the kind of job I do at work. If you think it does, why would I want to work for you?

Skye
shopfortattoos.com

[shopfortat]

Lots of girls who have tattoos in places just a little beyond where workplace clothes are. For some of us, its a private thing. For others, its not. Either way, I dont think it says anything about the kind of job I do at work. If you think it does, why would I want to work for you?

Skye
www.shopfortattoos.com

[shopfortat]

Lots of girls who have tattoos in places just a little beyond where workplace clothes are. For some of us, its a private thing. For others, its not. Either way, I dont think it says anything about the kind of job I do at work. If you think it does, why would I want to work for you?

Skye
http://www.shopfortattoos.com

[shopfortat]

Lots of girls who have tattoos in places just a little beyond where workplace clothes are. For some of us, its a private thing. For others, its not. Either way, I dont think it says anything about the kind of job I do at work. If you think it does, why would I want to work for you?

Skye
http://www.shopfortattoos.com

[inkedinc]

I think most people would be very suprised to learn that many professionals have tattoos. Visit www.inkedinc.com to see a sample.

[duga12x]

I'm amazed at what people are saying here! I have noticed that everyone that tries to act "normal" have more issues than the people that express themselves. What are you people hiding from the world? It never fails to surprise me, the hateful biggoted things people say, while they think they are good people. Its more disturbing to me than a nose ring.

[yo_marc]

Wow, some of these comments! I'm saddened at how quick some are to judge.

I would like to hear what kind of jobs or opportunities some of us with tattoos or piercings might be missing out on. I would also like to hear more of the backgrounds of those who aren't as favorable towards them.

My grandfather had tattoos on his forearms and calf from his Navy days - I always loved them. You may say they aged. I say they had character. That's what made them so cool to me.

It's probably true that some people may not make good calls when getting a tattoo - but seriously - that doesn't mean everyone is going to regret them.

I don't believe any of us have any right drawing conclusions about a person for their choice in where they get a tattoo. If someone wants a conclusion or answers, they should kindly ask.

For what it's worth, I'm a 30-ish born-again christian working in the computer industry. Few tats, few piercings... No problems?!

[needled_blog]

...but just in case you still cannot follow, mitch0927:

i am very heavily tattooed underneath the suit.

needled.com

[needled_blog]

mitch0927:

Posting my background addressed the very first comment and similar posts to this thread, that is, that tattooed people are not employable. Surely, a math scholar should be able to follow that logic. Indeed, as you demonstrate, education is not a measure of intellect.

[grimmsgirl]

What bothered me most after reading the comments wasn't the fact that so many of you dislike tattoos, it was the fact that you actually hold a job with such a small, little brain. You are judgmental while sitting in a church pew and "cast stones" at all you could reach. How sad. I really don't care if you have tattoos or not, many of my friends and family don't. However, what they do have is an open mind and heart. After reading most of these posts it made me even more thankful for my life and those I come in contact with everyday. Whoever would have thought growing up in a small town in Connecticut would have taught me so much more than most of you

[grimmsgirl]

It took me a moment to compose myself after reading some of these comments and not giving the reaction so many of you would love to get from "someone like me". I think I am ready now. Whew! I am a 33 year old, college educated (Bachelors degree with honors) professional woman who works for a leading insurance corporation. I work 40 hours a week, pay taxes, own a car, pay a mortgage, am a registered republican, practicing Catholic, and am married to loving, caring talented man. We are living the American dream, right? Oh yeah, I forgot to mention he is a tattoo artist. He is totally sleeved. He has tattoos on his neck and hands and gagged ears too. As for me I only have 17 at the moment but am on my way to half sleeves. For the most part mine stay covered in work, not out of embarrassment, but because most work clothes cover them any way. If I choose to have a less "professional" job they would be shown constantly. (continued)

[mitch0927]

Needled_blog,

You just put yourself on a pedestal by your comments of your Masters from an Ivy league university. Masters in what? Law? That's to me is saying you had your paralegal write this for you and check your spelling. What do you have when you have 20,000 lawyers at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean? Answer: A good start.

I also have a Masters Degree in Quantum Mathematics, and a PhD in Applied Mathematics and a Bachelors degree in Electronic Engineering, BIG DEAL.......your education doesn't say what kind of person you have, it just says you are able to pass tests and make the grade to achieve your degrees.

[opforsapper]

To bigwhtpony,

Let me get this straight, you are in church and looking at a womans backside all the way to her lower back, in church right, no wonder you couldn't concentrate on the sermon your mind was in the womans pants!
To be a tattooist you have to have a special talent just like an artist and to appreciate that art you must first understand the art form. Since you are so shallow minded and have to wait for the woman to make the first move, you may want to expand your horizons (above the waist line) and actually do some reasearch on body art, you may actually be surprised at what you find.