classy gal

So many job postings list "No visible tattoos or piercings (other than a single modest and appropriate ear piercing). Your arm tattoos preclude you from even taking most food service jobs.

There is a strong legal basis for discriminating against the tattooed, especially if the employers fears that having tattooed employees might hurt their professional image: In the landmark court case Pik-Wik Stores, Inc. v. CHRO, the Connecticut Supreme Court established the standard for reviewing dress codes under the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act. In Pik-Wik, an employee complained about a grooming standard that required men to wear their hair "off the collar and above the ears." The employee argued that the policy discriminated against him on the basis of gender because women were not subject to the same standard. The court rejected the argument concluding that the grooming standard was non-discriminatory because it did not deny equal employment opportunities on the basis of an immutable characteristic, e.g., sex, race, national origin, disability or religion. This Kentucky case verified that employers can fire employees who have exposed tattoos: A dress code that required tucked-in shirts and covered tattoos for Kentucky State Parks employees did not violate the civil rights of three fired maintenance workers, a federal appeals court ruled. However, regardless of the legalities and rights of people to look like a convict, many states have "at will" laws. These statutes allow you to quit at any time, for any reason, and fives allows corporations to fire employees at any time, for any reason, or no reason at all.

If i know about 'tattoo swim tests' then it is more common that you would think. I have a nephew who was disqualified to be city fire fighter during a pre-interview. They asked with-out a polygraph if he had ever smoked marijuana. Knowing that in the real interview later they would use a polygraph, so he admitted that in high school and in college (he has a B.S.) to trying marijuana. They told him that he was permanently excluded from employment in their city. I would imagine that everyone wants their best chance to excel. Why would you limit yourself by doing something that could preclude you from lifetime employment? Please who ever reads this..... DON'T GET ANY VISIBLE TATTOOS. And that I mean no NECK / HAND / LOWER ARM TATTOOS. You WILL experience discrimination. And it is legal to do so.

Ok lets try this, As I want to warn prospective nursing students against getting tattoos(expecialy on their hand/arms). Let me retort. 1st. Perhaps NYC does allow tattoos, but many do not. Why make your self less valuable and limit your arena of employability just because you like 'body art'. 2nd. Tell that to popular media star pamela anderson. She contracted HEP C from an reputable tattoo parlor in Hollywood. It is so prevalent that you can not even donate blood for 6 months after a tattoo. Not so extremely low as you suggest as there are known statistics against your argument. 3rd. There are many professional positions in life in which a visible tattoo will precluded you from holding. Why limit yourself for the sake of 'body art'? Surely CNAs and janitorial services are riddled with tattoos. Why make like harder for yourself? You can live in your own world, believing that modern tattoos are the mark of a free spirit and good employee. But the fact is there are legit reasons for discriminating against tattoos. Even the courts back the tattoo discrimination position.

As an experienced professional I want to give a warning against getting or showing any tattoos. It is 100% legal to discriminate against people with tattoos. Currently there are lawsuits in the works in the area of religious tattoos but so far the courts have not overruled previous decisions. For first responders, your employer can require you to list ALL scars or tattoos. It is a felony to lie. Often times for fire fighters they use a polygraph during the interview. In the extreme case of some city fire fighters they have a "swim test" where the point is not to test your swimming ability but to see if you have a disqualifying tattoo. Having a tattoo is more than a form of self expression, their meanings go back much longer. The word "stigma" has the Latin base of tattoo or to permanently stain. Only slaves or known criminals had tattoos and where given tattoos against their will. In todays society a majority of people do associate tattoos with criminal behavior and social deviance. It is a legitimate fear of a patient of contracting hep C from a worker. Having a visible tattoo can and will probably preclude you from achieving your potential as far as you career goes. So to all you in the lower echelons of nursing with visible arm/neck tattoos who dream of achieving more:trout:. My advice is to not get any. If you all ready have them, hide them and lie about them.