Can Employers Really Not Hire Someone Because They Have Tattoos?

In many countries throughout Southeast Asia, tattooing is an art form, a religious expression for many of the monks, and is considered to be not only acceptable, but honorable as well. While more and more people in the United States are getting tattoos, they are still maybe seen by some as a form of rebellion. The truth of the matter in the United States, is that depending on the kind of career you wish to pursue, or the job in which you would like to attain and keep, appearance can have a huge effect.

Unfortunately, not all companies will consider someones talents or intelligence, skill or productivity, if the person is covered in tattoos, a prospective employer does have the right to simply not hire them. While tattoos are becoming more widely acceptable, certain jobs such as school teachers or corporate office jobs may require that the tattoos be fully covered while one is at work. However, it is becoming more common to see police men and firemen on the job, with visible tattoos, just as it is not so rare to see doctors and lawyers practicing without fully hiding their body art.

But there is still a bit of a stigma surrounding tattoos in some workplaces, as those with tattoos may be seen as being a bit on the “wild side”. Every company has the right to oversee the way in which their company is perceived by their clients and their associates, and often times that company is perceived through the people that they have on staff. It is something that many people consider when they chose to extend their upper arm tattoo into a full length sleeve design. It is after all, an individuals choice to get a tattoo, and although the consequences of not being hired may have to do with that tattoo, it is the right of the company to deny them employment.