Body Art In The Workplace Essay

Body modifications, specifically tattoos and body piercings, have become increasingly popular in modern society; especially among young adults who feel that body art is a form of self-expression. In recent years, tattoos and piercings have become more accepted by the majority of American society, due mainly in part to popular culture glamorizing body art as sort of a fashion accessory. However, the question of whether body art is acceptable in the workplace or not is a whole new ball game. Many agree that tattoos and piercings have become more acceptable in the workplace in recent years compared to 20 or even 10 years ago. Although we are seeing a shift in the acceptance of body art in the workplace, many companies, especially white-collar businesses, are reluctant to this change. According to government projections, millennials, who are most likely to have body art, are expected to account for about 36 …show more content…
However, many white-collar businesses are slow at adapting to these changes, preferring their employees to continue keeping a professional, clean appearance. Nevertheless, some tattooed and pierced individuals continue to argue that these businesses are discriminating against them based on their appearance and that those businesses should accommodate their right to self-expression. Conversely, I would argue that job seekers with body art who wish to work for a company need to research or comply with company dress code policies before heading into an interview, after all, you are entering their territory, not the other way around. Therefore, as a rule of thumb, young college students that have or are considering a visible tattoo or piercing need to carefully evaluate how that body modification will affect their future career