5 Reasons Why Tattoos Should Be Allowed in the Workplace

Tattoos are common in today’s society, and not just among young people. Millions of Americans have tattoos, including many members of the business community. This trend has led to the question of whether or not tattoos should be allowed in the workplace, and arguments both for and against have been on the rise. This article explores five reasons why tattoos should be allowed in the workplace.

1) Create a positive environment

Studies have shown that employee happiness directly correlates to productivity. So, let’s take a look at what a little ink might do for your business. Keep employees happy: A 2013 study published by Elsevier shows that while around 60% of people are unhappy with their current job, 87% of them admitted to have a tattoo or are planning on getting one. The study also found that although those who have tattoos still suffer from higher rates of depression than their non-tattooed counterparts, men and women with tattoos are happier than other workers. Perhaps because tattoos let employers know these workers aren’t just jobbing for cash but enjoying their jobs—and therefore likely more productive as well.

2) The tattoo won’t hurt your work ethic

According to a recent study, tattooed people have a lower unemployment rate than those who don’t have tattoos. What does that mean? It means employers are more likely to hire someone with tattoos than someone without, even if it’s considered alternative art. If your boss is worried that you might slack off at work because of your tattoo, tell him or her to consider how much effort you put into getting that ink done! Not only is a tattoo difficult and painful (and probably expensive), but they also require maintenance; tattoos aren’t like piercings—you can’t simply ignore them and they’ll go away.

3) Allow people to express themselves

If a company wants to foster creativity, self-expression and inspiration, a culture that allows tattoos can certainly help. It’s important for people to feel comfortable at work. If a tattooed employee has tattoos that match their personality or fits with a company’s culture, then there shouldn’t be an issue with displaying their body art while they are at work. There’s no reason not to allow employees who are covered in tattoos from doing their job well. After all, you can appreciate someone’s artwork without wanting to look at it on your own skin!

4) People with tattoos can be good employees

It may be surprising to some, but employees with tattoos are often just as good at their jobs as their colleagues. A 2014 study published in The Social Science Journal found that people with tattoos were actually more likely to get hired than others, and once they were hired, they actually performed better on an analytical test than those without tattoos. It is estimated that 25 percent of American adults have at least one tattoo – meaning a quarter of your potential employees already have tattoos. Embrace diversity: If you do decide to implement a no-tattoo policy, you may be dissuading some of your best employees from working for you.

5) Some people have religious reasons for their tattoos

A person may have a tattoo for religious reasons, but if a religion does not prohibit tattoos, then that is up to their discretion. No one should have to miss out on a job because of an otherwise irrelevant detail about them such as their choice of ink. Religion isn’t something that should make you ineligible for work. After all, there are people with a variety of religions in nearly every workplace; if it’s no problem for other employees, why does it suddenly become an issue when you get hired? It doesn’t.