Sorry guys, I am new to the site, so please bear with me! Also, my iPad keeps freezing when I try to write a post, so the third time is a charm!
I found this topic to be really interesting and have enjoyed reading the different takes on it.
I, myself, work for a very corporate Intellectual Property Law Firm, and never show my tattoos at work. I wear pencil dresses, tights, and boots all year round to avoid showing any (colourful) skin. It's written into our contracts that no visible tattoos are acceptable, nor visible piercings - with exceptions I think for cultural ones, though I don't think I could claim mine as such!
Last year for our firm's Christmas function I asked permission (out of respect, not requirement) from the firm's partners to wear a short sleeved dress to the event, and they agreed only because no clients were to be attending.
Although the rate of tattooed people in New Zealand is very high, it is uncommon for tattoos to be displayed in our workplaces - depending of course on the profession. I don't really mind tbh, and it's rarely warm enough in Wellington for long sleeves to be uncomfortable.. Just means that if I run into a colleague outside of work, they either don't recognise me, or are shocked/taken aback by my 'unprofessional' casual appearance.