Dan writes me, saying, “I’ve run into some what I feel is an unfair treatment in my work place recently,” with the following picture attached:
I couldn’t agree more, and he explains,
I work at a grocery store as a cashier and have been working there for almost two years. I was hired with my lip pierced, and up until recently has never been a problem. We recently received two new managers and a lot of things have started to change — one of these things is the enforcement of a “NO FACIAL PIERCINGS” policy. We are forced to take them out or cover them up while at work. Taking them out is not a convenient solution since I have seamless rings, and as anyone who has used them in the past, they are a bitch to remove. I am forced to cover my rings with a disgusting band-aid or medical tape. This draws even more attention to them than not covering them at all. The band aid barely even covers anything and irritates my skin terribly. I feel that they are trying to humiliate us into taking our piercings out. I talked to the union and human resources about the issue and apparently the piercing rule was in the employee handbook that we signed when we were hired, though I have yet to see one of these handbooks.
You know, outside of “right and wrong” issues, and in my view of the world, the store is very much in the wrong here, there’s a real aura of idiocy that embraces this policy. As Dan points out, a couple piercings with an obnoxious bandage placed over them is far more upsetting looking to customers (whether they like or dislike piercings) because it sends the message that there’s something wrong with the piercing. And, as he also points out, being forced to do this daily endangers his health, so it’s ridiculous, offensive, and counter-productive on every level… but, sadly, in most States, it’s a fact of life for all-too-many people.
Finally, Dan asks,
I just wanted to know if anyone else has had similar problems in the workplace with their mods, and if anyone else has any more ideas that I could try to sway their policies?
Comments
436 responses to “Oh, that’s much more appealing…”
After 9 months working for a UK chain chocolate shop, today I was asked to take me labret out… because of HEALTH AND SAFETY issues. I was told I am allowed to wear my nose stud, but not my labret. Nothing at all was said about the 13 bars and rings and things I wear in my ears. I honestly don’t mind taking it out because it’s so well-healed, and I wouldn’t complain if I was told that I couldn’t wear it because of the company’s appearance policies, but I would REALLY love to know what’s so different, H&S-wise, between a labret and a nose stud.
After 9 months working for a UK chain chocolate shop, today I was asked to take me labret out… because of HEALTH AND SAFETY issues. I was told I am allowed to wear my nose stud, but not my labret. Nothing at all was said about the 13 bars and rings and things I wear in my ears. I honestly don’t mind taking it out because it’s so well-healed, and I wouldn’t complain if I was told that I couldn’t wear it because of the company’s appearance policies, but I would REALLY love to know what’s so different, H&S-wise, between a labret and a nose stud.
I’m a practicing chartered accountant. Not only do I have restrictions on my piercings (as in my contract says none at all for men) but I’m also contractually obliged to wear a suit. It sucks beyond belief. I told them today I’m leaving. Interestingly though, when I go on training courses I keep my tongue in, and apparently there was a sweep stake amongst the trainers as to whether I had my tongue pierced or not. Yeah, I know, that’s not interesting at all. Sigh.
I’m a practicing chartered accountant. Not only do I have restrictions on my piercings (as in my contract says none at all for men) but I’m also contractually obliged to wear a suit. It sucks beyond belief. I told them today I’m leaving. Interestingly though, when I go on training courses I keep my tongue in, and apparently there was a sweep stake amongst the trainers as to whether I had my tongue pierced or not. Yeah, I know, that’s not interesting at all. Sigh.
i made a comment earlier (#81) about my past experience at a McJob but didn’t think to mention my current situation until i read #95 which mentions careers versus jobs. I think that is a very good point, in a job you are expendable just one person out of a pool of many so employers can be self-glorifying twats about silly rules because they can replace you anytime they like. However, as you become more of a professional more money becomes attached to the job and the pool of candidates rapidly decreases so employers become less superficial and more focused on actual ability. Case in point, when i had my ignoble McJob i made a whopping 5.40 USD an hour and had to comply with the standard facial piercings are bad mentality currently I am a PhD student so i often do some casual teaching making 30.30 AUD an hour in a job that is about as much “interacting with customers” as you can get and no one says a word about my 20mm ears, my labret, tongue, nape piercing or my massive black work sleeve. Many students ask about the mods and i’m always frank and honest with them. I am, however, very careful if they ever if they should get something, stressing the point that its there decision an my opinion is irrelevant, since i am in a position of influence and abusing that would be very bad. I’ve discussed my mods and their effects on future prospects if i continue on in the field of academia. The general consensus is that anything short of being truly objectionable should have very little effect on my career, it might affect face to face interviews but in the grand scheme of things academia and the research world are so concerned about what you have done and can do that looks become completely moot. So ultimately if you want to succeed as a modded individual in the world you need to either find a mod friendly employer or make yourself an asset that clearly stands out, one they HAVE to hire.
i made a comment earlier (#81) about my past experience at a McJob but didn’t think to mention my current situation until i read #95 which mentions careers versus jobs. I think that is a very good point, in a job you are expendable just one person out of a pool of many so employers can be self-glorifying twats about silly rules because they can replace you anytime they like. However, as you become more of a professional more money becomes attached to the job and the pool of candidates rapidly decreases so employers become less superficial and more focused on actual ability. Case in point, when i had my ignoble McJob i made a whopping 5.40 USD an hour and had to comply with the standard facial piercings are bad mentality currently I am a PhD student so i often do some casual teaching making 30.30 AUD an hour in a job that is about as much “interacting with customers” as you can get and no one says a word about my 20mm ears, my labret, tongue, nape piercing or my massive black work sleeve. Many students ask about the mods and i’m always frank and honest with them. I am, however, very careful if they ever if they should get something, stressing the point that its there decision an my opinion is irrelevant, since i am in a position of influence and abusing that would be very bad. I’ve discussed my mods and their effects on future prospects if i continue on in the field of academia. The general consensus is that anything short of being truly objectionable should have very little effect on my career, it might affect face to face interviews but in the grand scheme of things academia and the research world are so concerned about what you have done and can do that looks become completely moot. So ultimately if you want to succeed as a modded individual in the world you need to either find a mod friendly employer or make yourself an asset that clearly stands out, one they HAVE to hire.
A list of companies who employ visibly modified people would be usefull especially for those of us looking for jobs that don’t involve a qualification. Could bme host one?
A list of companies who employ visibly modified people would be usefull especially for those of us looking for jobs that don’t involve a qualification. Could bme host one?
I have to agree with skolomyjec regarding the job / career distinction.
With regard to jobs in the service industry, most managers have this ridiculously outdated idea that customers are repulsed by facial piercings and tattoos whereas, in my experience working in the service industry for over six years, most customers have a very inquisitive and interested attitude towards body modifications. The reality is that the more piercings and tattoos you have, the more you are menacing to the majority of the population. Unfortunately, in the service industry, very rarely will employers yield to employee demands because cashiers and salespersons are highly expendable assets to a company. Once you gain some leverage, i.e., years of loyalty and good service, then you can negotiate with your employer.
As soon as you gain marketable skills, i.e., higher education, “serious” work experience (e.g., a job in one of those dreaded offices), employers are much less likely to haggle over body mod issues. Those issues become trivial once they realize that you have the skills they want. But you still have to show that you are at least somewhat worthy of taking the “risk” to expose other employees and clients to your disruptive appearance.
Understand that companies want to maintain their reputation by focusing on a “clean” and “appropriate” appearance in their retail outlets and vis-a-vis their clients. Instead of focusing on proper customer service, they get caught up on appearance and feed you bullshit stories about why you can’t have piercings. This is very much in line with the zeitgeist: people are mostly preoccupied with ‘appearance of’ but not what actually is. Get used to it.
The prevalent mentality is that tattooed people are jailbreaks and those who get piercings are insane for wanting to expose themselves to such intense pain (I’m being sarcastic here). Society believes that most modified people are insane. Once you show them that you aren’t, that is if you are able to retain your composure when the nth person asks you “Did that hurt?”, then you gain their confidence and they realize that you’re just like them.
This seems very clichéd to say, but I’ll say it anyway. Unless you actually conform to a certain extent to the whole of society’s expectations of you, i.e., “real” job, higher education, professionnal attitude (and appearance), you will pretty much be stuck in a service industry job with poor salary and no leverage to get what you want from that job. You’ll have to put that ridiculous-looking band-aid on your lip and shut up. Or…
I was told once, while working as a cashier in a golf store (lots of uppity rich bastards over there…), that I could not keep my labret piercing and that I should hide my full sleeve tattoo. I told them to fuck off, did not remove my labret, let my tattoo show in all its inky glory, and guess what? They didn’t fire me. They gave me a promotion. I guess it depends on the boss…
Dan, unless you really care about your job, be ready to openly defy those bastards and threaten to sue them for discrimination, and risk losing your job…
I have to agree with skolomyjec regarding the job / career distinction.
With regard to jobs in the service industry, most managers have this ridiculously outdated idea that customers are repulsed by facial piercings and tattoos whereas, in my experience working in the service industry for over six years, most customers have a very inquisitive and interested attitude towards body modifications. The reality is that the more piercings and tattoos you have, the more you are menacing to the majority of the population. Unfortunately, in the service industry, very rarely will employers yield to employee demands because cashiers and salespersons are highly expendable assets to a company. Once you gain some leverage, i.e., years of loyalty and good service, then you can negotiate with your employer.
As soon as you gain marketable skills, i.e., higher education, “serious” work experience (e.g., a job in one of those dreaded offices), employers are much less likely to haggle over body mod issues. Those issues become trivial once they realize that you have the skills they want. But you still have to show that you are at least somewhat worthy of taking the “risk” to expose other employees and clients to your disruptive appearance.
Understand that companies want to maintain their reputation by focusing on a “clean” and “appropriate” appearance in their retail outlets and vis-a-vis their clients. Instead of focusing on proper customer service, they get caught up on appearance and feed you bullshit stories about why you can’t have piercings. This is very much in line with the zeitgeist: people are mostly preoccupied with ‘appearance of’ but not what actually is. Get used to it.
The prevalent mentality is that tattooed people are jailbreaks and those who get piercings are insane for wanting to expose themselves to such intense pain (I’m being sarcastic here). Society believes that most modified people are insane. Once you show them that you aren’t, that is if you are able to retain your composure when the nth person asks you “Did that hurt?”, then you gain their confidence and they realize that you’re just like them.
This seems very clichéd to say, but I’ll say it anyway. Unless you actually conform to a certain extent to the whole of society’s expectations of you, i.e., “real” job, higher education, professionnal attitude (and appearance), you will pretty much be stuck in a service industry job with poor salary and no leverage to get what you want from that job. You’ll have to put that ridiculous-looking band-aid on your lip and shut up. Or…
I was told once, while working as a cashier in a golf store (lots of uppity rich bastards over there…), that I could not keep my labret piercing and that I should hide my full sleeve tattoo. I told them to fuck off, did not remove my labret, let my tattoo show in all its inky glory, and guess what? They didn’t fire me. They gave me a promotion. I guess it depends on the boss…
Dan, unless you really care about your job, be ready to openly defy those bastards and threaten to sue them for discrimination, and risk losing your job…
Call centers, call centers, call centers.
Decent money, and they don’t care, at all.
It rules.
Call centers, call centers, call centers.
Decent money, and they don’t care, at all.
It rules.
I work in a RETIREMENT HOME. 7\16″ Lobes, both nostrils, septum [hidden] and venoms, etc., etc.
The residents love my piercings, and always ask to see them. I think that because they didnt see it in thier generation as much, they approach it with an attitude of curiosity rather then disgust and i fucking love it.
my boss used to tell me to take out my nose rings, but i told them they were nose bones and would have to be cut out of my face. I explained to him and my other managers how important those small pierces of metal really are to me, and he decided they werent bad and told me i could keep them. and now nobody notices, and nobody cares!
I work in a RETIREMENT HOME. 7\16″ Lobes, both nostrils, septum [hidden] and venoms, etc., etc.
The residents love my piercings, and always ask to see them. I think that because they didnt see it in thier generation as much, they approach it with an attitude of curiosity rather then disgust and i fucking love it.
my boss used to tell me to take out my nose rings, but i told them they were nose bones and would have to be cut out of my face. I explained to him and my other managers how important those small pierces of metal really are to me, and he decided they werent bad and told me i could keep them. and now nobody notices, and nobody cares!
I work in a government office, and I know there’s at least one employee with a labret. She works at the front desk of one of the floors too. Cute as pie. I’ve got a ring in one nipple and a barbell through the other, and with a dress shirt on they’re rather … obvious. No troubles so far. One guy in the IT services team with me dyed his hair cobalt blue.
Of course, I live in Vancouver, quite possibly the most liberal city in Canada, a nation that’s rather liberal to begin with. And given the current skilled-labor shortage, employers don’t have the luxury of ANY kind of intolerance whatsoever.
I work in a government office, and I know there’s at least one employee with a labret. She works at the front desk of one of the floors too. Cute as pie. I’ve got a ring in one nipple and a barbell through the other, and with a dress shirt on they’re rather … obvious. No troubles so far. One guy in the IT services team with me dyed his hair cobalt blue.
Of course, I live in Vancouver, quite possibly the most liberal city in Canada, a nation that’s rather liberal to begin with. And given the current skilled-labor shortage, employers don’t have the luxury of ANY kind of intolerance whatsoever.
Should have mentioned this in my other comment, but even if I hated piercings, as a customer I’d rather see lip piercings than think that a band-aid might be covering up an oozing, gaping sore on someone who’s handling my food.
Should have mentioned this in my other comment, but even if I hated piercings, as a customer I’d rather see lip piercings than think that a band-aid might be covering up an oozing, gaping sore on someone who’s handling my food.
I’m thankful that I work in the library, which is funny because you’d expect the library to be stricter than a grocery store.When I was 15 a girl I worked with had to cover up her eyebrow piercing which confused most people because no customers had ever complained about it, hell, most people hadn’t even noticed she had a piercing until the bandaid drew attention to it.
I think many employers in those sistuations are stupid.If you have this big ass bandage on your face people are going to wonder more about that than a healed piercing:/
I’m thankful that I work in the library, which is funny because you’d expect the library to be stricter than a grocery store.When I was 15 a girl I worked with had to cover up her eyebrow piercing which confused most people because no customers had ever complained about it, hell, most people hadn’t even noticed she had a piercing until the bandaid drew attention to it.
I think many employers in those sistuations are stupid.If you have this big ass bandage on your face people are going to wonder more about that than a healed piercing:/
Case in point of a piercing being gross: I went to a subway today and the girl making my sammich had either a fresh or a very irritated wrist piercing…and there were visible crusties. She wasnt wearing a glove over her piercing and Im 100% sure that a crustie fell into my food. I said “no thanks” and left without paying. Thats just nasty for reals…
Case in point of a piercing being gross: I went to a subway today and the girl making my sammich had either a fresh or a very irritated wrist piercing…and there were visible crusties. She wasnt wearing a glove over her piercing and Im 100% sure that a crustie fell into my food. I said “no thanks” and left without paying. Thats just nasty for reals…
That bandaid looks rediculous and doesnt even cover anything o.O … You’d look better with a freakin balaclava man, see what the bos says to that 😉
I recently got my first tat done on my arm just above the elbow, it will be interesting to see if it effects any job chances, it’s actually not a highly visable piece, so I figure that particularly with a mid length shirt should be easily hidden … Tis a shame though. I can understand jobs not wanting crude tattoos (I mean cmon, being a check out chick in woolies or wherever and a little kid spots your vagina, cock or bewbs tattoo and starts asking questions? JUst a little bit hmmm) but aside from that, and particularly if you’re not even in the public’s eye … who cares? Bandaids draw more attention to them anyway. If it’s not a health risk (to yourself most of all – getting piercings caught in machinery etc) who cares?
I got my tat in Japan as a souvineer of my time here (as an exchange student) and going back to University and showing people … their reactions have been interesting … most interesting being a lot of people have commented on the fact I’m not allowed to enter public baths anymore. In Japan tattoos are often viewed as a criminal thing due to the history behind them that exists through to this day … it’s kinda sad to see how shocked people are to see a tattoo and it’ll be good to get back back to Aus and know 3/4 of people wont give 5 tosses towards it.
That bandaid looks rediculous and doesnt even cover anything o.O … You’d look better with a freakin balaclava man, see what the bos says to that 😉
I recently got my first tat done on my arm just above the elbow, it will be interesting to see if it effects any job chances, it’s actually not a highly visable piece, so I figure that particularly with a mid length shirt should be easily hidden … Tis a shame though. I can understand jobs not wanting crude tattoos (I mean cmon, being a check out chick in woolies or wherever and a little kid spots your vagina, cock or bewbs tattoo and starts asking questions? JUst a little bit hmmm) but aside from that, and particularly if you’re not even in the public’s eye … who cares? Bandaids draw more attention to them anyway. If it’s not a health risk (to yourself most of all – getting piercings caught in machinery etc) who cares?
I got my tat in Japan as a souvineer of my time here (as an exchange student) and going back to University and showing people … their reactions have been interesting … most interesting being a lot of people have commented on the fact I’m not allowed to enter public baths anymore. In Japan tattoos are often viewed as a criminal thing due to the history behind them that exists through to this day … it’s kinda sad to see how shocked people are to see a tattoo and it’ll be good to get back back to Aus and know 3/4 of people wont give 5 tosses towards it.
i don’t know if i can add anything fresh to this discussion after the previous 137 posts, but i’d like ask whether anyone thinks the mentality of piercings offending the general public is a) entirely regressive and/or b) condescending to the public, especially considering the sheer volume of people with visible modifications in North America, many of which i’m willing to bet are barely even given a second glance.
i don’t know if i can add anything fresh to this discussion after the previous 137 posts, but i’d like ask whether anyone thinks the mentality of piercings offending the general public is a) entirely regressive and/or b) condescending to the public, especially considering the sheer volume of people with visible modifications in North America, many of which i’m willing to bet are barely even given a second glance.
Its so nice to have modblog back as it should be. 138 comments of interesting discussion. Its a beautiful thing.
Its so nice to have modblog back as it should be. 138 comments of interesting discussion. Its a beautiful thing.
I got a job in a cannery As far as I knew, there were no rules about body piercings when I was hired. My job included standing next to a machine that would slowly pop out can lids, one by one, along a track. Once the lids got so far down the line I was supposed to slide the lids into a paper sleeve and put them in a stack. Nine hours, five days a week. Big fun. After I got my lip pierced, they told me I couldn’t have it because it might somehow mysteriously “fall out and end up in someone’s food”. How they expected this to happen I don’t know, especially with the swelling of a new piercing. But they made me take it out at work and refused to let me wear a retainer, a Band-aid, or even a piece of fishing line. It was a brand new piercing and it closed up FAST. I had to go into the restroom every break and repierce it with the jewelry to keep it from scabbing over during my shift. Hellish. Quit soon after for unrelated reasons.
I got a job in a cannery As far as I knew, there were no rules about body piercings when I was hired. My job included standing next to a machine that would slowly pop out can lids, one by one, along a track. Once the lids got so far down the line I was supposed to slide the lids into a paper sleeve and put them in a stack. Nine hours, five days a week. Big fun. After I got my lip pierced, they told me I couldn’t have it because it might somehow mysteriously “fall out and end up in someone’s food”. How they expected this to happen I don’t know, especially with the swelling of a new piercing. But they made me take it out at work and refused to let me wear a retainer, a Band-aid, or even a piece of fishing line. It was a brand new piercing and it closed up FAST. I had to go into the restroom every break and repierce it with the jewelry to keep it from scabbing over during my shift. Hellish. Quit soon after for unrelated reasons.
I’ve always found that it depends where you go.
In my previous position I worked in the IT department of a very conservative financial services company and I had no issue having my labret and septum jewelery in during work. Interestingly enough we used to have executives and departmental heads buzzing around from time to time and senior management had absolutely no issue with me at all, whereas it was my line manager that used to make comments and give me shit although he couldn’t do anything as he knew senior management had no beef with my.
My current job is again IT support in a huge broadcasting company and as i’m contracting, I am effectively hired “at will” and don’t really have any choice but to play the game. I keep my labret jewelery in but take the septum ring out, usually before I enter the building but occasionally at my desk and when I go home at night it sometimes goes back in before I leave the building.
It’s known by my co-workers and management that it’s pierced and they know I have pierced nipples and what not but I don’t flaunt it – they are more concearned that I do my job well and look vaguely professional. I don’t think it would be an issue for me to wear my septum ring whilst i’m actually at my desk working but since they can fire me for any reason whatsoever, i’d much rather spent the 2 minutes a day I take to pop it in and out than to not be able to pay my rent and bills.
I’ve always found that it depends where you go.
In my previous position I worked in the IT department of a very conservative financial services company and I had no issue having my labret and septum jewelery in during work. Interestingly enough we used to have executives and departmental heads buzzing around from time to time and senior management had absolutely no issue with me at all, whereas it was my line manager that used to make comments and give me shit although he couldn’t do anything as he knew senior management had no beef with my.
My current job is again IT support in a huge broadcasting company and as i’m contracting, I am effectively hired “at will” and don’t really have any choice but to play the game. I keep my labret jewelery in but take the septum ring out, usually before I enter the building but occasionally at my desk and when I go home at night it sometimes goes back in before I leave the building.
It’s known by my co-workers and management that it’s pierced and they know I have pierced nipples and what not but I don’t flaunt it – they are more concearned that I do my job well and look vaguely professional. I don’t think it would be an issue for me to wear my septum ring whilst i’m actually at my desk working but since they can fire me for any reason whatsoever, i’d much rather spent the 2 minutes a day I take to pop it in and out than to not be able to pay my rent and bills.
bme doesn’t have to host it. here’s a link for you guys, if you want, you can post anonymously (invent a name if you like) and let us know what your employer thinks, who and where they are.
Post up any mod-friendly businesses you know of, too- I’ll organize the list. I have time to log in and update every other day.
http://modsatwork.blogspot.com/
bme doesn’t have to host it. here’s a link for you guys, if you want, you can post anonymously (invent a name if you like) and let us know what your employer thinks, who and where they are.
Post up any mod-friendly businesses you know of, too- I’ll organize the list. I have time to log in and update every other day.
http://modsatwork.blogspot.com/
Its sadly a fact of life for anyone with visible mods. When i worked with Marks and Spencers (big ass dept store in the UK) I had to take my lipring out ever shift. Was fine at first as I had a retainer, but I broke three of them and decided just to risk not wearing one for the shift. It wasn’t the best plan, as one day [when we happened to get a new manager] I got my seamless ring stuck and I couldn’t get it out. Had to work with it in after sobbing in the bathroom. My Boss told me to get it taken out permanently. Still never did. Left 2 months later and Now with the Scotmid. My New Boss laughs at how different I look from work to ‘normal’. I still take out the lip ring and while it isn’t the best thing at least it will do till I get a more Mod friendly job. Plus point is the boss says if it gets stuck this time I can just work with it. I’m too hard a worker for him to Fire. No ones noticed the plug yet.
Its sadly a fact of life for anyone with visible mods. When i worked with Marks and Spencers (big ass dept store in the UK) I had to take my lipring out ever shift. Was fine at first as I had a retainer, but I broke three of them and decided just to risk not wearing one for the shift. It wasn’t the best plan, as one day [when we happened to get a new manager] I got my seamless ring stuck and I couldn’t get it out. Had to work with it in after sobbing in the bathroom. My Boss told me to get it taken out permanently. Still never did. Left 2 months later and Now with the Scotmid. My New Boss laughs at how different I look from work to ‘normal’. I still take out the lip ring and while it isn’t the best thing at least it will do till I get a more Mod friendly job. Plus point is the boss says if it gets stuck this time I can just work with it. I’m too hard a worker for him to Fire. No ones noticed the plug yet.
Just read the comments of Jobs versus Careers. Too True. Can’t wait to work in Labs as a Bio Tech. I would be worried, if My Advisor at university didn’t have full sleeves, a bridge piercing and plugs. *laughs*
Just read the comments of Jobs versus Careers. Too True. Can’t wait to work in Labs as a Bio Tech. I would be worried, if My Advisor at university didn’t have full sleeves, a bridge piercing and plugs. *laughs*
When I can, I go as far as boycotting stores that maintain anti-mod policies that I find particularly offensive. Whole Foods is a perfect example…a large percentage of their customers are visibly pierced, tattooed, and like shopping organic. Their employee policy is no visible facial piercings (barring the occasional exception for small nostril studs) and absolutely no hairdye. I think this is absurd, so I take my business down the street to Trader Joe’s.
This is from a customer perspective, of course…I have been lucky enough to land jobs that have had no problems with piercings.
When I can, I go as far as boycotting stores that maintain anti-mod policies that I find particularly offensive. Whole Foods is a perfect example…a large percentage of their customers are visibly pierced, tattooed, and like shopping organic. Their employee policy is no visible facial piercings (barring the occasional exception for small nostril studs) and absolutely no hairdye. I think this is absurd, so I take my business down the street to Trader Joe’s.
This is from a customer perspective, of course…I have been lucky enough to land jobs that have had no problems with piercings.
>>A job telling you to cover up tattoo’s or take out piercings is discrimination and I don’t think they can technically tell you to do so.
Yes they can. Tattoos and piercings are choices that we make, allowing them in the workplace is a choice they are making. It is a prejudice certainly, the judgement being often that the public are less likely to want to be served by someone with visible tattoos and piercings. In some cases they are right, albeit ethically they are wrong.
>>A job telling you to cover up tattoo’s or take out piercings is discrimination and I don’t think they can technically tell you to do so.
Yes they can. Tattoos and piercings are choices that we make, allowing them in the workplace is a choice they are making. It is a prejudice certainly, the judgement being often that the public are less likely to want to be served by someone with visible tattoos and piercings. In some cases they are right, albeit ethically they are wrong.
As a sidenote I have just been to Woolworths in Kings Heath Birmingham (kind of like a smaller Walmart) and most of the staff have visible tattoos and piercings.
As a sidenote I have just been to Woolworths in Kings Heath Birmingham (kind of like a smaller Walmart) and most of the staff have visible tattoos and piercings.
Most would find this amusing, my husband works for an architect and is also self employed, he was a powerlifter, has giant muscles, a full body tribal tattoo, at the time, septum piercing, 3 lip piercings and eyebrow piercing as well as blue hair.
(i hope this link shows) http://b2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01161/29/04/1161884092_l.jpg
(it’s an image of him), but since he designs a lot of buildings, with a lot of situations he meets with big business clients, senators, architecture awards and of course important meetings with important names wearing important business suites. He goes with all his piercings, his blue hair and often shows off his tribal at inappropriate times. If it’s a big event at a local town then the camera’s usually rush to him and snap as many pics as possible. (Since the events are based on a building that he designed)
FYI, he doesn’t wear a business suite but usually an appropriate enough top, black pants, studded belt and combat boots lol.
Most would find this amusing, my husband works for an architect and is also self employed, he was a powerlifter, has giant muscles, a full body tribal tattoo, at the time, septum piercing, 3 lip piercings and eyebrow piercing as well as blue hair.
(i hope this link shows) http://b2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01161/29/04/1161884092_l.jpg
(it’s an image of him), but since he designs a lot of buildings, with a lot of situations he meets with big business clients, senators, architecture awards and of course important meetings with important names wearing important business suites. He goes with all his piercings, his blue hair and often shows off his tribal at inappropriate times. If it’s a big event at a local town then the camera’s usually rush to him and snap as many pics as possible. (Since the events are based on a building that he designed)
FYI, he doesn’t wear a business suite but usually an appropriate enough top, black pants, studded belt and combat boots lol.
here is a suggestion: GET OVER IT!!! I’m sorry the world is’nt a perfect place and having two lip piercings is’nt accepted by everyone but for gods sake if you don’t like your jobs policy than find a new one or take them out. Your bitching about seamless rings so get ones that are’nt seamless and deal with it. If they are fully healed they should be fine coming in and out if you are gentle with them.
here is a suggestion: GET OVER IT!!! I’m sorry the world is’nt a perfect place and having two lip piercings is’nt accepted by everyone but for gods sake if you don’t like your jobs policy than find a new one or take them out. Your bitching about seamless rings so get ones that are’nt seamless and deal with it. If they are fully healed they should be fine coming in and out if you are gentle with them.
My work has a dress code that doesn’t embrace my love of band shirts and lip piercings, but, for the first two years at my work, it was never enforced.
About a year ago, a manager tried to get those rules enforced upon me and I went to our regional manager regarding this. I argued that it wasn’t fair or right to enforce this rule as I was hired (and promoted) with these aspects of me and that, if they tried to punish me regarding this, it would be a clear cut case of unfair dismissal/punishment.
My work has a dress code that doesn’t embrace my love of band shirts and lip piercings, but, for the first two years at my work, it was never enforced.
About a year ago, a manager tried to get those rules enforced upon me and I went to our regional manager regarding this. I argued that it wasn’t fair or right to enforce this rule as I was hired (and promoted) with these aspects of me and that, if they tried to punish me regarding this, it would be a clear cut case of unfair dismissal/punishment.