Colored Guy Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 I'm still young and have only been a member of the 9-5 workforce for 7-8 years, but the one thing I've learned is work is not the time or place for any type of self expression. You get paid to perform your specific job, not to express/advertise all your hobbies and beliefs. I do not want to be "the guy in finance with the tattoos". I want to be "that guy in finance who knows his shit and can help solve this problem."Also when muscular guys wear tight polo shirts in an office environment they look like are personal trainers, or depending on the color work at Target, Best Buy, Walmart, etc. About work... what they don't know can't be held against you. I would have probably been out of a job if I had my ink exposed all the time. "let's see.. who can we do without... yeah, get rid of the tattoo guy, he's different..". Rob Reyeslv, Mark Bee and slayer9019 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-92860 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reyeslv Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 what they don't know can't be held against you. Those are my thoughts EXACTLY!!!! SeeSea and Mark Bee 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-92863 Share on other sites More sharing options...
slayer9019 Posted May 7, 2014 Author Share Posted May 7, 2014 I'm still young and have only been a member of the 9-5 workforce for 7-8 years, but the one thing I've learned is work is not the time or place for any type of self expression. You get paid to perform your specific job, not to express/advertise all your hobbies and beliefs. I do not want to be "the guy in finance with the tattoos". I want to be "that guy in finance who knows his shit and can help solve this problem."Also when muscular guys wear tight polo shirts in an office environment they look like are personal trainers, or depending on the color work at Target, Best Buy, Walmart, etc. The way I phrased it to a business associate recently. Don't "pick" on tattoos because they are so easy. It is like picking on smokers, we stand out and "are bad". Think about it like this. I group tattoos with religion, politics, pro-choice, etc. They are non-value adds to work, so just skip them. What can be gained at work by showing up with all your tattoos showing or similarly wearing your "Obama 2012" shirt, or similarly your choice of faith pendant prominently displayed. Nothing. Yes, you may find like minded individuals, but realistically it causes fractures in the workplace. I've seen the topics I've mentioned tear up relationships in the office and paint various persons with a "bad" image. People at work should keep their opinions to themselves and not bring in their views unless related to work. Example: I overheard a crazy conversation based in religious beliefs that mentioned that gay people aren't real people. Seriously this happened in corporate America right out in the open. I also happened to know a person, who I know is gay happened to be sitting very very much in earshot of this whole discussion. Let's just say it didn't end well for the parties involved. Example 2: I was in a social conversation at work with coworkers and some directors that somehow creeped into politics. I removed myself quickly from the conversation but let them continue until it broke down pretty bad. Even though it was on a hot topic for me (guns), I didn't see how that could help my job or career at all. Again from what I saw as an outcome the director had opposing views from the employees and they were on the "shit list" well into when I left the job. Tattoos are great, they are awesome, but as Brian said, "I dont want to be known as the tattooed guy from Finance", just the same as I don't want to be known as the "Gun nut from Pro Services" or the "Atheist from Sales". I don't go to work to "express myself", I go there to get a paycheck....and of course spend that paycheck on new tattoos! Breakme, beez, tatB and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-92942 Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubaron Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 ......I don't go to work to "express myself", I go there to get a paycheck....and of course spend that paycheck on new tattoos! :cool: tatB, SeeSea and beez 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-92943 Share on other sites More sharing options...
gougetheeyes Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 @slayer9019 please to change your username to TheAthiestinSales HaydenRose, slayer9019, CultExciter and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-92944 Share on other sites More sharing options...
slayer9019 Posted May 7, 2014 Author Share Posted May 7, 2014 @slayer9019 please to change your username to TheAthiestinSales HAHAHA I love it! Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-92945 Share on other sites More sharing options...
CultExciter Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 What would our work names be? I'd probably be ShinyHeadDude. gougetheeyes and slayer9019 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-92946 Share on other sites More sharing options...
tatB Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 I thought everyone that worked in sales was soulless and godless? HaydenRose 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-92947 Share on other sites More sharing options...
slayer9019 Posted May 7, 2014 Author Share Posted May 7, 2014 What would our work names be? I'd probably ShinyHeadDude. I already have a nickname that has followed me for years... Satan and yes...yes...people I work with have called me it. beez, Reyeslv and CultExciter 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-92948 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAGIC HATE BALL Posted May 7, 2014 Share Posted May 7, 2014 What would our work names be? I'd probably be ShinyHeadDude. Depending on my audience at work I'm either, "COMMISSAR POWER-BOTTOM!!! Of the 13th Legion; Rob Halford Division" or "HP HOVERCRAFT : Chaos-Master of the Necronomicon!!!!" Yeah, I love my co-workers. :cool: Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-92962 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeSea Posted May 8, 2014 Share Posted May 8, 2014 Here's an article from Linkedin about tattoos and the workplace. I like the comments and found them to be more interesting than the article. But You Asked Me to Stare At Your Tattoos But You Asked Me to Stare At Your Tattoos | LinkedIn I've gotten sucked into the comments. I'm surprised and actually gladdened to see this on LinkedIn. But I'd like to smack the middle aged white guys stating People get tattoos and piercing to get attention. They also have low self-esteem and body issues. I think this guy has never seen or known anyone with a decent tattoo, or just immediately formed his negative opinion and climbed up on his high horse. Next time I look up someone I might do business with, I'm going to check back and see if they commented on this thread. That should tell a lot about a person. TrixieFaux and Reyeslv 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-92985 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRCL Posted May 9, 2014 Share Posted May 9, 2014 Something postitive from my side... I work at the national air traffic control center in Switzerland, as an Aeronautical Information Management Controller. Sounds pretty uptight, right? I had some doubts if tattooing my arms would be a no-no. However when I learned that they hired a girl with neck tattoos, I went for it. Here's the exchange from a superior several management layers above me: Her: New tattoo? Me: Yes Her: Ooooooh show me! Me *shows outlines of Oldschool Pirate Girl and Ship Halfsleeve* Her: Wow thats beautiful! But you get it colored in, right? Me: Sure I do Her: Cool you have to show me immediately then End of story. Also, several coworkers who have expressed prejudice against tattooed people actually admire mine. Work relationship has not changed in the slightest, but instead even improved. A lot of coworkers now come to me for recommendations. Nice talks ensue. SeeSea, keepcalm, HaydenRose and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-93124 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike456 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Great info , thanks! Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-100281 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieFaux Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 So far, for the first 4 weeks at my new school I have kept covered up with long pants and long sleeve shirts...even on these 90-100 degree days. I do have working A/C in my classroom so it only gets hot outside. Well, I got some cropped pants yesterday that show the bottom of the monmon cat tail and I'm going to wear them tomorrow. Yeah! Livin' on the edge! Reyeslv, HaydenRose, ironchef and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-100767 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugilist Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 How'd it go, @TrixieFaux? Haha. So this weekend I finally put something on one of my arms, and then promptly went out and bought a couple of very light blazers/cardigans to cover my upper arms in warm weather. Our workplace has very inconsistent AC, so warmer months will definitely be tricky. It's funny how over the weekend half of my work tops suddenly became a problem... It also makes me laugh to think how all of my students always seem so proud to show off their tattoos, but I spend so much energy covering mine up! Ah, to be young again... :) Anyway, I have a couple of male colleagues who wear suits every day, year round, which is something that I have always found baffling about male dress (how do you DO this and not melt?) So I figure I should survive needing to wear shirts that go down to my elbows. SeeSea, Fala and Mark Bee 3 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-100892 Share on other sites More sharing options...
marley mission Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 interesting topic my no go spot is my forearms solely for occupational reasons i wear short sleeves and now have work on both upper arms would love to throw caution to the wind and get lower arm work but fear it would come back to bite me working in education myself but...never say never :) Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-100894 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieFaux Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 How'd it go, @TrixieFaux? Haha. So this weekend I finally put something on one of my arms, and then promptly went out and bought a couple of very light blazers/cardigans to cover my upper arms in warm weather. Our workplace has very inconsistent AC, so warmer months will definitely be tricky. It's funny how over the weekend half of my work tops suddenly became a problem... It also makes me laugh to think how all of my students always seem so proud to show off their tattoos, but I spend so much energy covering mine up! Ah, to be young again... :) Anyway, I have a couple of male colleagues who wear suits every day, year round, which is something that I have always found baffling about male dress (how do you DO this and not melt?) So I figure I should survive needing to wear shirts that go down to my elbows. I don't know how they do that either with the suits. It was rather anti-climactic for me... either nobody noticed or nobody said anything. I'm surprised the kiddos didn't say anything because they tend to notice everything, my students last year would get very excited any time a tattoo peeked out. I spend part of the day sitting in a chair right in front of them while they sit on the rug, eye level with where my tattoo was showing! Maybe they are just so used to tattoos it doesn't faze them. The parent population at my new school is different. I'd say about half are tattooed, either lightly or heavily. But the other half are much more conservative looking and seem like they would be judgy. I can't even wear 3/4 length sleeves any more, just long sleeves. It's worth it though! Wait--so, have you posted your new arm tattoo and I missed it? Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-100895 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusk Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 Yeah ever since I got my Valkyrie, which takes up almost the entire upper half of my arm, I've had to change my wardrobe a bit for work. I don't have to search out all long sleeves but I now have to wear longer sleeves than before, and I didn't realize how many of my work shirts just had those shoulder cap sleeves. Oh well. It's worth it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-100896 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugilist Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 @TrixieFaux - glad it went well! I feel like you should start a thread of cute things your students have said about your tattoos, because kids' reactions to tattoos is one of my very favourite things. :) And re: my own tatjam, check instagram! Glad I am not the only one who is anal about strategic shirt sleeve lengths. TrixieFaux 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-100897 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fala Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 I've been putting off getting any tattoos on my arms for this very reason - ALL of my warm-weather clothes are either sleeveless or short sleeved, and I really have no desire to be worrying about wearing something to cover it all up during the workday or replacing my work clothes. My boss knows I have tattoos at this point, but I don't even want to go there to have it be a possible workplace issue. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-100899 Share on other sites More sharing options...
str8shuutr45 Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 I'm a recruiter and have been working on a sleeve that seems to be growing in length by each sitting. I am usually able to wear a short sleeve shirt dress shirt to work on days that I don't meet with either candidates or clients. On those days, I usually either wear a long sleeve dress shirt or suit (depends on the audience). I think attitudes are changing because I see more and more hints of ink on people. Most do a good job of covering up when they come in for a meeting. I still see a lot of professionally dressed women with small neck (nape of the neck not front), ankles, wrist, etc. ink. I place engineers and they are usually more relaxed than other professionals. With that said, I don't think that a lot of visible ink is going to fly in an interview. For that matter, in my marketplace, piercings, for some reason, have more of a negative stigma than tattoos for a professional position. Just my $.02 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-100902 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrixieFaux Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 The office manager at my school is an older Russian lady--super nice, motherly woman with a thick accent. I feel really comfortable with her so told her I wear long sleeves every day because I have tattoos. She didn't blink an eye and just said, "Why cover them? What is this the 1940s?" I love her. One of these days I'll tell my principal too and see if his reaction is anywhere close to that... Shaun1105, Reyeslv, Pugilist and 7 others 10 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-101232 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Weder Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 You'll find you will be judged on your professionalism @TrixieFaux rather than your tattoos. I completely understand the testing of waters though. I had a Nurse Unit Manager say to me the other day....the staff love it when you come on to the Wards Mick. Now they know you and have attended your training, they're no longer scared, they think it's cool when you bounce the Wards, talk and laugh with them and just be yourself. On the flip but, I pick my kids up from the extra curricular activities from school rockin jeans and singlets, all the parents avoid me like I'm the plague. Until recently, a couple of them started striking conversations and shit. One mother asked me last week...so Mick, what is it you do for work. I said...oh, I work for the Qld Govt, look after mandatory compliance to assist in National accreditation reviews for 5 major Metro Hospitals. The look on their dials were like pure shock. I love that shit. Yeah, not just some no hoping, tattooed Harley riding thug you envisioned hey. I love educating the straights that we might have a brain too. polliwog, Joe Stratford, PackMan and 7 others 10 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-101236 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeeSea Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 @Mick Weder - two great stories! You sound like a pretty cool dude (and of course being a cider-lover gets you lots of extra points). I'm liking breaking people's assumptions, but in the opposite way. I have no visible tattoos. The few times I've shown my back or shown a picture. "I never thought you'd be the type of person to do something like that!" I've a lot of schooling and am an engineer working in a somewhat visible federal position, so I'm pretty much the opposite of "thug looking," so I think I'm educating the other half as well. Mick Weder, hogg, keepcalm and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-101240 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colored Guy Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 I was at pain management a few weeks ago, on my off day and I run into a lady I work with as she came in. So she gets to see me in a t-shirt and shorts... she had no idea. She has some tattoos I've seen, but never talked to her about them. She was thrilled to see that I had so much ink on me. So we talked for a bit, I gave her a card to a shop I use. But again, she's in the minority that knows I have any tattoos on me. Quote Link to comment https://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/t/1161-tattoos-and-the-workplace/?page=19#findComment-101348 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.