My boss recently found out that I had tattoos on my upper arm, it's visible when I wear a very short sleeve shirt. Anyways he informed that having any visible body modification may result in dimissal since I work in a professional environment interacting with clients. I checked my employee handbook but I could not find any policies regarding tattoos. I am very nervous that I may be fired so I contacted a civil attorney. Has anyone experienced this?

Thanks all.

My bosses know about my tattoos and are OK w/ them; I've always been careful w/ tattoo placement so I can have them covered if need be.

That being said, I had a part-time retail gig. When the owner of the shop learned that I had tattoos, she said that she would never have hired me, even though I was a reliable, helpful employee. She didn't fire me, of course -- just hurt my feelings.

I checked w/ a friend of mine who is a paralegal who works for a firm that does a lot w/ employee terminations and what not. Tattoos ARE NOT a protected class. That means, in a nutshell, that a company reserves the right to not hire you b/c of tattoos. Or at least that was my take on long definition of legalese

You have 2 choices at this time: keep the tattoo covered to keep the boss happy OR find a job that lets you express yourself more freely.

You may want to talk to an HR rep w/ your lawyer regarding the handbook. If tattoos/ body modification isn't mentioned there, that should help your side of the issue.

Best of luck!

WOW!!!!

Did he say if you continued to wear shirts that would allow your Tattoo to show??? If he just saw it for the FIRST TIME and came off like that....sounds like a little more may be going on.

I work on a trading floor. I have one on my back that of course nobody can see, one on my ankle that only shows during the summer months. Just got a third behind my neck which CAN BE seen but it's still healing so I do not have my hair up. I KNOW there will be ALOT of reactions going on here once it's healed and I have my hair all up. Right now I'm not worried about it. But if my supervisor says something to me about it in terms of keeping it covered. It won't be a big deal...not big enough to lose my job. I have been here 7 years and it's a very good, very well paying job.

GOOD LUCK

When I got my first tattoo I had to sign a release that basically said I understood I may not get a job due to having a tattoo/piercing. if some moron decides to blame them for not getting a job

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kim g,

Nope. But I think that is why i haven't got a job yet.

I recently applied for a job at dominos and was told that I was "over qualified," too old, and that my tattoos may be a problem. I'm a 30 year old male with tattoos on my hands, arms, throat, legs, (and those are just the visible ones). I also have my ears scalpelled to 1 inch. I have a BA in Family Life Therapy with a minor in Business Administration. I just needed a job for the time being to take care of my family because we had recently moved. I've worked for major corporations, I have been a highschool teacher, I even worked in childcare with 2 & 3 year olds. But to be told by doiminos that I couldn't work there - me off to say the least. ejw829 is right, there is no law protecting tattooed individuals. (I also took legal environment and HR management) I do think that some how it should be lobbied that tattooed people are protected. Yes we chose to be tattooed, You can't fire someone due to sexual orientation. I believe that tattooed individuals need to be protected if we are truly going to be a country about diversity. After all, tattoos don't make an employee a poor worker or uneduacated. take a look at Eric (The Lizard Man), he's got a phd. Some food for thought and maybe a change for the better in our society.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kim g,

I absolutely LOVE when I see someone who is covered in ink/piercings and you find out they're very intelligent and most of the time extremely polite and courteous! It just goes to show how stereotypes are completely ridiculous. My girlfriend has told me about all the people she's worked with in the medical field in hospitals and such that are full of tattoos and piercings. LOVE IT!!

Mine don't show. Wanted one behind neck but didn't ge tit becaus eof work (very formal job)...

However, seperate topic, but my wife does me much better since I got tattoos!