Tattoos and Piercings in the Workplace
Zac Wilson
27 January 2011
English 102
Multiple Positions rough draft
Prohibition of Tattoos and Piercings in the Workplace A large number of businesses do not allow tattoos that are visible. Many also prohibit piercings, other than single earrings on women. Some industries even take their policies to the extreme of not allowing any tattoos that take up more than 25% of a body part, and if a pre-existing tattoo is too large or obscene, it must be removed (Powers). This even applies if a uniform can easily cover the tattooed area. A business is allowed to limit or prohibit tattoos, piercings, and other forms of body modification as much as they want as long as it is addressed in the employee handbook, usually in the dress code section. If the business does not mention a tattoo or piercing policy, it is illegal for them to punish or discriminate against an employee with body modifications. The policy also must be enforced uniformly among the employees, or the employee can sue the company (Cole) . Costco didn’t used to have as strict of a policy on piercings. During that time, an employee named Kimberly Cloutier got her eyebrow pierced. She was then instructed to take the piercing out when she was at work. She refused, and stated that it was against her religion, The Church of Body Modification. The company then changed their policy to prohibit the wearing of eyebrow rings. Cloutier took the case to court, and lost because Costco included their policy in the handbook. Her point about it being against her religion was also invalid because the Church of Body Modification does not require anyone to keep their piercing in at all times (Cole). A common belief is that tattoos and piercings are perceived as a negative practice, associated with delinquents. For this reason, many businesses limit their employees’ freedom to display their piercings or tattoos. They believe that if customers see tattooed and pierced people working somewhere, they will
27 January 2011
English 102
Multiple Positions rough draft
Prohibition of Tattoos and Piercings in the Workplace A large number of businesses do not allow tattoos that are visible. Many also prohibit piercings, other than single earrings on women. Some industries even take their policies to the extreme of not allowing any tattoos that take up more than 25% of a body part, and if a pre-existing tattoo is too large or obscene, it must be removed (Powers). This even applies if a uniform can easily cover the tattooed area. A business is allowed to limit or prohibit tattoos, piercings, and other forms of body modification as much as they want as long as it is addressed in the employee handbook, usually in the dress code section. If the business does not mention a tattoo or piercing policy, it is illegal for them to punish or discriminate against an employee with body modifications. The policy also must be enforced uniformly among the employees, or the employee can sue the company (Cole) . Costco didn’t used to have as strict of a policy on piercings. During that time, an employee named Kimberly Cloutier got her eyebrow pierced. She was then instructed to take the piercing out when she was at work. She refused, and stated that it was against her religion, The Church of Body Modification. The company then changed their policy to prohibit the wearing of eyebrow rings. Cloutier took the case to court, and lost because Costco included their policy in the handbook. Her point about it being against her religion was also invalid because the Church of Body Modification does not require anyone to keep their piercing in at all times (Cole). A common belief is that tattoos and piercings are perceived as a negative practice, associated with delinquents. For this reason, many businesses limit their employees’ freedom to display their piercings or tattoos. They believe that if customers see tattooed and pierced people working somewhere, they will
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