Is Corporate America Ready for Body Art?
By Nick WeatherheadThursday, April 29, 2010
Unless you have been living under a rock, you have more than likely seen a major shift in the social winds that swirl around this country. Not only do we have our first African-American president, but we have Michael Steele as chairman of the Republican National Committee and gay marriage on the brink of spreading to more states. In most cases, liberal viewpoints are becoming the more common these days, foregoing the conservatism of the past.
With that being said, the face of the American business professional has been changing for a while. More and more twentysomethings are getting tattooed up with all sorts of different artistic expressions all over their bodies. But is corporate America ready to get on board with this growing trend?
The honchos of major businesses seem very reluctant in most cases to social changes when it come to anything that breaks from the norm of the past. I personally think I know more people my age with than without ink, it's becoming harder and harder to realistically find someone in their twenties that hasn't in one way or another thrown some ink somewhere on that canvas they call a body. I even have a poorly-judged tribal sun on my back (which will be covered this summer with something way cooler) - but until then I'm still good because it's not in a visible place (thank God).
According to a study published in June of 2007 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, about half of people in their twenties have either a tattoo or a body piercing other than traditional earrings. The days of just simply blending in are over. People want to express themselves more openly and freely than ever, but a question stands: could you risk losing out on certain careers if you partake in it?
Don't get me wrong, there are still many career moves you could still make if you didn't want to start the strenuous climb up the corporate ladder. For the most part, the fashion and design world could care less. All facets within the music industry would surly accept you with open arms, and if you are a sports star, you have no worries on the subject. But if you're like me and want nothing more than success within the close-knit corporate community, you must think first before going forward.
Even with all the great leaps we've made in the last decade or so, corporate America seems to be a little behind the curve. Public opinion in the corporate world is huge, if not everything. If you are employed by a firm or cooperation that is in the public eye or need be seen in a certain light you must uphold that certain image that that company sees fit. Unless your civil liberties are violated don't even think about a lawsuit either. It's not discrimination. Companies can limit employees' personal expression on the job as long as they do not impinge on their civil liberties. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, employers are allowed to impose dress codes and appearance policies as long as they do not discriminate or hinder a person's race, color, religion, age, national origin, or gender. So basically don't get all Jesse Jackson on anyone and start flipping out about how you have certain rights of expression in the workplace.
Another study by CareerBuilder.com shows the perils of tattoos for aspiring professionals, and confirms the conventional wisdom that tattoos are a sign of immaturity, bad judgment and bad taste. Even with all that said, don't give up on that corporate dream just yet. Even with the majority of mangers and higher ups out there trying to chastise your expressions, stay cool. The more and more I looked into the subject I found and realized it's more about the location and visibility of the work than the actual tattoo. Keeping your tattoos secret is something that can be done and plenty of young adults do it.
Brady Lefere, Regional Manager for AraHull Services in Orlando, agrees. "I got work done when I was younger with the thought in mind - let's make sure all these things are hidden from the public eye."
Honestly, who wants to go to a doctor or be represented in a court of law with someone with visible work all over their arms or neck? Not me - not yet at least. We haven't quite gotten there yet, but we are moving in the right direction. Perception in the world is a force to be reckoned with, until twentysomethings of my generation are able to obtain positions in management.
It may be another 10 to 15 years before you walk into a board room and your CEO has two full sleeves or visible piercings other then earrings. Until that wall is completely torn, try and keep your freedom of expressions locked up under your suit or dress on the job until the doors open and it's completely socially savvy for every business professional across the board.
