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Opinions wanted:

Last week I interviewed a candidate, whom I would guess was in her mid-20s, for a junior accounting position I've had open for several months in my department. (the role reports directly to me)

She ticked off all the boxes and then some and has a great outgoing personality. As required, I passed her on to my boss, the director of finance for our division. She met with the candidate and rejected her. The reason is that she has a neck tattoo and a few other visible tattoos! (my boss's words to me)

She said she did not want a certain image in her department and that we were professionals who projected a professional image.

I'm devastated. It's not easy finding someone these days who ticks off all the boxes.

What are everyone's thoughts regarding candidates who have visible tattoos?

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  1. Anonymous

    Your boss is biased. What would she have said if the candidate didn’t have visible tattoos? Could easily cover them up with makeup in an interview.

    Hire individuals based on their skills and ability. Who cares if someone has tattoos…how does it impact their work? If this is client facing then I can understand some hesitancy with the tattoos but it wouldn’t deter me personally from hiring a great candidate.

  2. Anonymous

    What is your company policy on tattoos, you need to start there first. Then move on to an inclusivity conversation.

  3. Anonymous

    Exactly this. How would this boss react to a candidate from another culture, such as native peoples who often have tribal facial, tattoos or self-inflicted scarring…? This boss has an antiquated and homogenous view on the world and progression does not have time for discrimination.

  4. Ashley Z

    My first question is if the tattoos were offensive? Then I can understand. As someone heavily covered in tattoos, I have been discriminated against many times. Unless you feel like debating this with the director to try to change their opinion and give solid reasons as to why this was the best candidate, I don't think that's going to change their antiquated mindset.

  5. Barbara

    Completely agree. I worked at a company that actually had if stated in the handbook about viable tattoos and also had notes re hair styles and colors. Now the hairstyle thing has gotten problematic since many of our citizens of color have been discriminated against for locks and other styles. So we will wait for enlightenment sigh.

  6. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

    My view is that tattoos have nothing to do with a candidate's ability to do the job.

    Neither do their hairstyle, the clothes they wear, their nail polish color, their jewelry, piercings, or any of a thousand BS, biased reasons to reject a candidate.

    Having tattoos or any of the other things I listed above do not make you unprofessional. Just like not having tattoos doesn't make you professional.

    This is nonsense. Is this Director interviewing in 1978?

  7. Joan Schaefer Poach

    I think more like the June Cleaver 1950s

  8. Anonymous

    I agree with the person who stated that you should check your firm's dress code policy and see if it includes skin art. As long as the tattoos do not contain any art that can be considered offensive, I think that your boss is living in the dark ages. Is she client-facing? Depending on the clientele, that could be a consideration, but if this is an internal accounting department with no client contact, it shouldn't make any difference.

  9. Anonymous

    Accountant? So a back-office position, not one customer-facing like Sales?

    That's silly. A salesperson or front desk secretary is the only type of employee where "image" would have any bearing. I gotta wonder what other "image" requirements she has, and if any of them are EEO protected categories.

  10. Anonymous

    Many accountants meet with clients.

  11. Anonymous

    Companies have a right to set a dress code that works for them.They know the color of your hair, the tattoo, the facial piercing or the flip flops on your feet have zero impact on your ability to do the job. They do not care if you are customer facing or not, it’s what the company wants and it is legal. Now to not hire a person because of personal preference then that’s a very different situation, touching a line with legal.

    I work in HR and I cannot tell you how many meetings I have had to attend due to this topic.

    please check your company handbook and if necessary point out to that woman that it’s illegal to discriminate if it’s not in the company handbook.

  12. Anonymous

    I'm a 50-something that is a fan of tattoos...I have a few, my mom has a few, my brother has a lot, my dad had some. That said, I do understand and recognize that not all employers are keen on visible tats. It's becoming fewer and fewer, but there are still some. I think it's stupid, and they may miss out on great candidates because of their view, but it is their right to do so.

  13. Joan Schaefer Poach

    I rather thought we were past this discussion. Tats, piercings, who cares? Can the person do the job? SMH. Your boss is living in the 1950s.

  14. Anonymous

    Sounds like the candidate dodged a bullet. I wouldn’t want to work for somebody who was so judgmental. There are more important things to worry about than a visible tattoo.

  15. Anonymous

    I have mixed feelings about this.

    I have a small tattoo, which is in an unscrupulous location- got it for me, not so much as art-- inside my left leg easily hidden.

    I get that tattoos are the thing to do, to each their own. But in some industries and offices, unfortunately, image is everything. Equally so, as hard as it is to find work these days, I'm somewhat paranoid (? Correct word?) on my appearance in addition to all else FOR this reason

    But if the ad has been open fir some time and the candidate checked the proverbial boxes-- either your supervisor is too picky (no one else in a sea of potential applicants for a period?) or she's one of those that says "no one wants to work "

    I'd say y ou did right and the individual should have had the opportunity to move forward. But also, if she meets with outside clients?

    I work in an office full of people with tattoos, but all are concealed.

    Just my 2 cents

  16. Anonymous

    This, I get it. As someone who is 68, but looks in her mid-50s, grew up a tom-boy, and still has an appearance of being "butch," I walk in the door, and some people's gaydars go off. It inspires me to be a straight ally to the LGBTQ+ community, as I can't be or present myself as something I'm not because it's not something I can sustain.

  17. Anonymous

    I think it's a real shame. As long as the tattoos weren't offensive then it doesn't have any baring on her ability to do the job. I'm sure she will thrive elsewhere.

  18. Anonymous

    This boss is clearly allowed to create a very strict and biased environment based solely on her judgment criteria. Whether her judgment is fair, unfair, realistic, unrealistic, ethical or unethical, it is how she is allowed to run her department with the blessing of management.

    Thoughts on tattoos are irrelevant. It could be freckles, pierced ears, or blue eyes........its a collective acceptance that defines "this is who we are and we will not welcome anyone who is not that."

  19. Ladyboss549724

    I've been living in Denmark for two-years, and tattoos are a real piece of the culture -- in the Nordics and most Europe. Seeing them constantly on all types of people gave me pause to learn more about the symbolism for why someone would get inked. It's their story, identifiers in who they are as a person.

    Your manager who wants to "keep an image" -- wants that image to only reflect their view of the department. I would invite a conversation that to you keeping an image has more to do with work performance, output, accuracy -- whatever the role and department objectives are, and not someone's actual image. Convey that she has an opportunity to upskill the department and build a strong bench-strength with this individual.

    I would also take this feedback to the recruiter to gain their thoughts and perspective on how to handle the conversation. You're the hiring manager, it should be your call and your manager should respect that. It gives me pause if this manager is truly a leader if they won't see past a tattoo or allow you to hire who you see as the most qualified candidate. I've been lucky as a manager, unless there were real job-related issues, my leaders allowed me to select from the qualified pool, and I've never had a bad hire. I've always shocked my leaders for what I saw and who I selected because they were off the charts amazing.

    I hope this experience grows your confidence -- you're demonstrating great leadership in pursuing a conversation.

  20. Madam anon663

    Such a close minded individual who is using their personal feelings about tattoos in the hiring process. A shame the manager can't look at the qualifications instead.

  21. Mary Pool

    My daughter-in-law is head to toe in tattoos and is one of the hardest workers I have ever known. However, getting that many tattoos does affect employability. Can you push back, perhaps write a quick memo on how qualified she is, how she will not work with customers, etc.? In the end, it is the director’s decision. Even if you went to personnel (which I strongly do NOT recommend), it will not change their mind; they will find another reason or make the person’s life so miserable they will leave or punish you for forcing them to hire someone they didn’t want, especially if they don’t work out. The memo is as far as I’d go, but I wouldn't write it. Some battles are not worth the potential cost of fighting. IMHO, this is one of them.

  22. Anonymous

    wow, how narrowminded to judge the person by their body art. Are candidates suppose to wear a turtleneck and cover up their arms and legs to make sure those things are not viewed in an interview? I couldn’t agree with you more, though when it’s tough to fill a position judging someone by anything other than their knowledge, skills, ability and cultural fit should be the only ruling factors but, obviously that’s not the case. I hope your manager isn’t judging you the same way for some incidental thing like the shoes you wore one day or the blouse she didn’t like?

  23. Anonymous

    I worked at a place where a girl had a dot tattooed behind her ear, the only way to see it is if she put her hair up. One of the partners saw it and said, if we hire you full time you have to cover your tattoo. Her response was I guess I won't be working here then.

    It's unfortunate that the tattoo is keeping her from the job, there are still many places that are very conservative when it comes to this. I do hope they reconsider her for the role.

  24. GirlBossanova934974

    The Director of Finance is acting very foolishly. This role is NOT customer facing and thus will not affect any customer's view of the business. It's a pity we still have managers with this sort of pettiness and power trip mentality still running around. For the record, I am over 60 years old and have always believed in some sort of company dress code but this sort of pettiness is crazy. A highly skilled and excellent employee should not be sacrificed for someone's petty ego. I have seen this sort of thing over the decades. These sort of managers will even go after the type of shoes a female employee can wear. "OPEN toed shoes" are not allowed etc.. There is usually a bit of petty jealousy involved aka this other woman is far better looking than me.................

  25. Erica Lea Doss

    To be honest, I have been an accountant for 20+ years and am currently a manager across 2 different merged companies. When I turned 40, I got a sleeve tattoo that goes down to the knuckles on my hand; when I turned 44 I got an upper chest tattoo of a bat is at least partly visible most of the time; I have consistently had my hair colored in always changing vibrant unnatural colors and I tend to lean towards a gothic style in my clothing and aesthetic. I have never noticed any unfavorable interactions with co-workers, supervisors or customers due to my appearance. I don't know your supervisor, and I don't want to judge, but it does sound as if they are a little behind the times..... some of the most intelligent and creative people tend to have tattoos and piercings... and unless they have something particularly vulger in an extremely visible place (neck tattoos would only count depending on the content of the tattoo), I don't think it should play into the hiring process at all for a financial position.

  26. Anonymous

    I personally hate tattoos. That is MY personal feeling. If an candidate applied for a position with me, the right thing to do is to evaluate the person's ability to DO THE JOB, not how they look. So what if I don't like tattoos? That should not play into hiring a person, whether they will be in front of people or not. I'm fat (like a size 18) and I KNOW I've not been hired before due to my weight and folks who are even heavier have a harder time. I wish people with evaluate others with the person's ability to do the job, not how they look.

  27. Anonymous

    If you think the candidate is great, the candidate should get the chance. It is difficult to go against your boss on a hiring decision, but you could try to make the case that spending more time in the hiring process would increase hiring costs, would overburden personnel who would have to do the work for the person in that position and that you sensed the candidate would be a good fit and the most qualified person for the job. Is there anything in your organization's personnel manual that prohibits tattoos? Worse case, she could cover the tattoos with makeup, but asking that to the candidate could make her feel uncomfortable and stop her from moving forward in the hiring process.

  28. Anonymous

    My thought is - don't worry about tattoos - worry that you have a micromanaging boss!

    But getting back to the tattoo question - they have become so common these days, that I think it's unreasonable to reject someone for having visible tattoos.

  29. Anonymous

    How's the boss micromanaging? They want to have a workplace populated with professional-looking employees. For all you know, not wanting employees with visible tattoos may be a company-wide cultural thing, not just the poster's department.

  30. Anonymous

    Some companies have had “company wide cultural things” that excluded people of different races and religions.
    Doesn’t mean they are right to enforce these policies.

  31. Anonymous

    I wonder how your boss would respond if instead of tattoos those were scars. I think judging anyone based on how they look, either naturally or through personal choice, is just plain crappy and should be completely illegal. It's one short step from "I don't like tattoos, to she's not pretty enough or he's not handsome enough". Discrimination is discrimination. If the candidate can do the job, then they should be hired, and I think your boss is a pretty horrible human being.

  32. Anonymous

    Tattoos, especially visible tattoos, are self-inflicted and an attempt to get attention.

    Scares, for the most part, aren't self-inflicted.

    Do you see the difference?

  33. Anonymous

    But what if those scars were self-inflicted? Where is the line drawn? Are grossly inflated lips with filler or eyebrows sky high with Botox an acceptable form of self inflection… But tattoos and scars or not? Personally, I find cosmetic procedures grotesque and fake looking on almost 100% of people… would I judge them thoroughly for those physical attributes? No because that’s where you bring in EQ and IQ to find the best qualified talent for the role.

  34. Anonymous

    The candidate will hopefully land a position elsewhere where everyone appreciates her talent. I know you like her but, I’m concerned about any slight interactions she’d have with the director of finance. They seem like an absolute jerk and if she were hired I don’t think any subtle interactions with a jerk like that will be good for her well-being. I’m Black and have written about an experience I had in a group interview long ago where I was discriminated for having locs. Locs by some companies are seen as unprofessional although it’s a natural style that is healthier. In California now the crown act is supposed to protect this sort of discrimination but, who knows. I did get an arm tattoo after a lay off from a more conservative workplace because I was extremely tired of being a certain way to fit in with JERKS.

  35. Focused721350

    Good Morning,

    Ah! Right up my alley. I can understand what she's saying. But! You don't judge a book by it's cover EVER! I'll tell you why! My youngest son is Tattooed all over and pierced. Since the day he was born he's been going and going. He is too smart! He carries a GPA 4.0 + and one of the kindest person and never been in trouble. He's never been a typical baby or child. Never crawled, He ran! He graduated from college Majoring in Computer Science and he's GOOD and of course other things to much to list. I personally feel your Boss is making a HUGH MISTAKE on her decision. That's the art this generation do to themselves. As a business woman and owner, you have to look beyond this. Otherwise! You could be missing out BIG TIME! You don't have to like it! But! As a professional you have to look beyond her art work and see if her brain can do the job! Well! I wish for the best on any future decisions and pray your boss gets herself out of those clouds.

    Good luck and God bless,

    Ms. T

    BTW! I'm a Professional myself and also have Tats and Piercings and NEVER had a problem with clients ever. ;)

  36. Anonymous

    It seems to be the way of the world, tattoos. If the person was qualified for the role you may want to speak to your manager and find out if they are willing to hire this person as a remote resource or if they agree to cover them up at work. What she is doing is discrimination and is frankly illegal. If you choose to bubble this up to other depts like legal in the company you will potentially put yourself in harms way. If this just doesn't suit you at all you may have to find a company where this type of judgement is not acceptable.

  37. Coach Nancie Kay Shuman

    I have just spent a month visiting family in an ICU in a major teaching hospital which has a world wide reputation for their professionalism and high standards of care. I would say about 705 of the nurses and doctors have tats, some covering most of their exposed skin. It has no effect on me because I know the quality of care which they provide by reputation.

    Unless your company dress code specifically says no visible tattoos, she can't actually reject her for this reason. (Example: British Airways has this rule in their public facing positions,) this could be seen as discrimination.

    If you want this person on staff, I would suggest looking at the company dress code and then making a case for her. If not, wish her well, and offer to write her a reference.

  38. Anonymous

    She can reject her, and (get this) she did!

    Get off your high horse!

    Candidates get rejected for all sorts of reasons... age, gender, sexual orientation, race, etc... every day.

    What are you going to do about it?

    Are you going to fight every time you feel "discriminated" against? Good luck with all your legal battles and the time and money involved.

    The poster's boss made a decision. END OF STORY!

  39. Lomaxruiter@yahoo.com

    The only way this is remotely acceptable is if there is a documented company policy prohibiting visible tattoos (which would be fairly antiquated IMHO). Otherwise, dismissing this candidate is a biased decision based on personal opinion, while not a protected class, it’s just poor decision making.

  40. Anonymous

    True, might be discrimination. There is NO way to prove it other than in writing. All that needs to be Said to "cover" is not a good fit.

  41. CMT

    Agree

    I’m old school

    I can get behind ink however, I do not believe that the ink should be visible on the face, the neck or the hands. I’ve just got hard and fast rules when it comes to that I think it looks very unprofessional and it says the wrong message.

  42. Lisa OGrady

    I’m 64 years old and have worked in corporate positions since my 20s.

    I think that in today’s world, ink is common and personally, I find that most people are expressing something that has meaning to them if one takes the time to appreciate it.

    Unless the tattoo is gross or sexual, I find it very disappointing that your coworker has done that. You probably lost a good worker and a fun and creative person. Just my 2 cents….

  43. Anonymous

    How terrible. Would your boss also reject a woman who had a double mastectomy but decided not to have reconstruction surgery and was flat chested. Or the woman who has alopecia and cannot have a full head of hair, or the woman who lost her entire family in a car accident and selected to tattoo herself to honor them? Where in the world is diversity, empathy and understanding? Many successful people have tattoos, are highly professional and very intelligent. Apparently, it's how the world views people as what they look like versus how they think. Encourage that young lady to join this group and we can guide her to other reputable companies that may use her skills. Sad but true, we are judged by the cover of our own book, which is our body, our hair, our makeup, etc. I'm glad to see you at least moved her through the process, but it's a shame that wonderful talent wasn't even given an opportunity to work. It shows that your boss or maybe your company has a standard of how people look. If the world were more open, imagine the changes we could make.

  44. Anonymous

    Someone choosing to ink themselves doesn't fall under "diversity, empathy and understanding."

    You're free to get all the tattoos you want. However, you're not entitled to have your choice accepted. I| If you want to be respected for your choice to be inked, then you need to respect others for their right not to accept your choice.

    Trying to force your decision to look like a circus act is pathetic and childish.

  45. Anonymous

    I am different responder but I agree with you.

    Some people out there with the ink will give the shirt off their back while "inkless" (is that a word??!) can be hateful.

    However, I feel like people know when they have extensive artwork, there's a potential tradeoff.

    This is one of them IMO. Whether or not boss is right, it's her decision. The middle lady (interviewer) did her best to try.

    To me, I'd get the tattoos where they aren't visible (legs) or upper arms.

    This, unfortunately, was one of those "you never get a second chance to make a first impression " moments.

    Do I agree with boss? No. Di I have to accept it? Yes.

  46. Anonymous

    Exactly!

    You don't have to agree with the poster's boss's decision, but you should respect it.

    If you decide to get inked and look like a circus clown, then you need to accept the many consequences that come with your choice.

  47. Anonymous

    I am so confused by this repeated comment of tattoos looking like a “circus clown”…what on earth kind of circus did you attend as a child where clowns are covered in tattoos? This is a very odd analogy.

  48. Anonymous

    They are not but places that excluded people for appearance issues wasn’t directly about excluding from their race or religion but, what was deemed appropriate for why people from different races or religions chose to appear a certain way that were against policies they were excluded in the past.

    I don’t think should work there anyway. She seems smart and is deserving of a welcoming community to work in. Tattoos are pretty much everywhere and the policy is a ridiculous way to keep her out.

  49. Anonymous

    Your boss’ behavior is extremely discriminatory. This is not the 1950s. Shame on this person!

  50. Anonymous

    How is someone choosing to look like a circus clown "discriminatory"?

    You choose to ink yourself; others choose not to accept your pathetic attempt at trying to get attention.

    EVERYONE is free to choose what they'll accept or not.

    Has anyone here ever thought maybe her boss is aware that many of the employees are uncomfortable with someone sporting neck tattoos as if they had been in prison? Those uncomfortable with how someone chooses to present themselves have rights too.

  51. Anonymous

    It might be generally discriminatory but not legally discriminatory. The only things that are covered under legal discrimination are race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age (age 40 or older), or genetic information.

    I know this because a few years ago my corporate boss said he was going to fire me if I didn't lose 10 lbs. My labor law lawyer boyfriends at the time said weight is not covered under discrimination and that he could.

  52. Anonymous

    How is it "discriminatory" to not hire someone who made the choice to ink themselves to try and gain attention by looking like a circus freak?

    Is it discriminatory to not hire someone who dressed like a slob for their interview?

    Is it discriminatory to not hire someone who used profanity during their interview?

  53. Anonymous

    How is someone choosing to look like a circus clown "discriminatory"?

    You choose to ink yourself; others choose not to accept your pathetic attempt at trying to get attention.

    EVERYONE is free to choose what they'll accept or not.

    Has anyone here ever thought maybe her boss is aware that many of the employees are uncomfortable with someone sporting neck tattoos as if they had been in prison? Those uncomfortable with how someone chooses to present themselves have rights too.

  54. Anonymous

    Well said:

    "Their company, their rules. "

    Too many job seekers let their sense of entitlement make them forget this fact.

  55. Anonymous

    While the HM is missing out on a great addition to the team, the fact is that if you advocated for the candidate and she were hired, your boss would likely not be kind to her. After a short time, she would be looking to leave the role and/or the company. Then she would give the company a poor rating and review. The sad reality is that it is better to let that candidate go now.

    The best thing to do is to advocate before you get another candidate like this one by going to your HR/People department managers and talking with them about the company policy, then asking them to provide training to educate managers.

    It will take time to change the thinking of managers like your boss, but, at least you can then feel good about making the hire, even without your manager's approval, because you will have the support of the company.

  56. Anonymous

    It’s 2024.

    Sad that the director still thinks this is necessary to enforce.

    Someone with a neck tattoo believes that their skills and competence ought to outweigh any dusty company handbook. I’m inclined to agree.

    When will the idea that a woman must be “competent, communicative and industrious” outweigh the idea that a woman must be “nice to look at, pleasant and unthreatening?” Plenty of people “project a professional image” but are not-so competent. Reality always catches up.

    Does the position even interface with the public? I am sure the candidate could have been tactfully coached to wear a cardigan and a scarf if it was a day with outside meetings.

  57. Anonymous

    I *personally* don't care and am sad to read that this is still a thing, but it can also still depend on the industry/business. Some are still so conservative that tattoos bother people (when tattoos have no bearing on competence at the job!). Sorry that you lost out on a great candidate.

  58. Anonymous

    Well it’s how it is. Cover those up and look professional.

  59. Anonymous

    That’s not how it works. Unless you work in fast food. Lol

  60. Anonymous

    Your boss needs DEI training and an understanding of the accounting shortage. His loss will be someone else’s gain.

  61. Anonymous

    The workforce is also not allegedly allowed to discriminate against age....they definitely do, so let's not mince words, or facts here.

  62. Anonymous

    What's "someone else's gain"? For all you know, the candidate has been rejected numerous times due to their appearance. When they do finally find a job, it'll probably be with some third-rate small-time accounting firm.

    Don't assume the candidate will move on to something better, and don't assume the company is losing out by upholding its standards.

  63. Anonymous

    Are you the hiring manager that rejected this employee or something? Lol. Why are you so salty with your insults?

    How do you know this company is not some "third rate small time accounting firm?"

    Talented employees get hired. She just needs to direct her time and energy towards younger and more up and coming places of employment. She'll be fine. I've seen high level managers in the consulting work with tattoos. They just cover them when meeting older clients.

  64. Anonymous

    Being a person with 2 visible tattoos that no one notices 1 is a bracelet and the other is my eyeliner is tattooed on.

    My suggestion to whoever is posting the position would be to state no visible tattoos or piercings other than earrings.

    Being that tattoos are much more acceptable nowadays. Maybe talk with your boss about it.

    It is very hard to find good help that tics all the boxes .

  65. Anonymous

    That is a good point. Once long ago I went into a group interview anywhere we were given a pamphlet with derogatory cartoon pictures with unacceptable looks and that could have been relayed before I applied. One was downright racist. It wasn’t Abercrombie and Fitch but so far they are the only company I know that has been exposed for doing such things.

  66. GirlBossanova934974

    Person works in Accounting/Finance. In 99% of cases, these are NOT client facing roles. I have been an Accountant for 30 plus years and the only time Accountants come into client facing roles is if they are a public accounting firm or they are consulting. The vast majority of roles deal ONLY with inside employees.

  67. Coach Nancie Kay Shuman

    I have worked with an executive who has a neck tattoos and wears a shirt and tie to work every day. So you might be surprised.

  68. Anonymous

    If part of her job is client facing and her image would somehow make or lose money, that might somewhat excuse this outdated mindset.

    If not, then your company just lost out on some great talent.

    On a slight tangent, if humans could somehow evolve to value people by their brain and professional capability, rather than by their looks, we'd probably be way more advanced as a species. Imagine not choosing an extremely talented candidate because the boss thinks they're ugly, or fat, or have cheap clothing. People judge by physical standards still, and often end up with bull sh*tters who fit societal appearance-based standards and can talk up a good game more than they can deliver actual intellect-based results. Thankfully, I think remote work is changing this phenomenon slightly.

  69. Anonymous

    We live, and always will, in a world that judges by appearances.

    If you think your appearance has no impact on your career, the opportunities you get in life, forming relationships, or attracting a romantic partner, then you are either naive or in complete denial.

  70. Anonymous

    If you fully read and comprehended what I wrote, you'd see that not only do I understand the (unfortunate) way human brains work, but that it would be lovely to see people evolve past a 'lower level thinking'.

    We have already progressed past not hiring women for all the reasons men used to give. We also (recently) have stopped allowing hiring managers to discriminate against black women who have hairstyles white people historically deemed unprofessional. I've seen people in high levels of government and business with braids and afros, which is a testament to humanities ability to overcome illogical thinking based on in-group out group perceptions. Judgy people will always exist but It sounds like you are in complete denial about how humans can better themselves.

  71. Anonymous

    Ask her to keep them covered for the position while she is at work. Turtle neck

  72. Liz Milne

    I think your boss is prudish and unbelievably old-fashioned. A good candidate is a good candidate and she's ridiculous to reject her for cosmetic reasons like that...

  73. Anonymous

    Just because the poster's boss has standards, as the company probably does, does it make them "prudish"?

    I can tell by your comment you are a crowd follower who probably bends their values to suit those you want to impress. I'll give the poster's boss credit for standing up for what they believe in. If the boss and the company don't want to have their employees look like circus freaks, then more power to them for enforcing their standards and not caving into pseudo-progressives like you.

  74. Liz Milne

    Goodness me 'Anonymous', you do know an awful lot about me, don't you? Please do explain: how does judging someone by *one* (relatively trivial) aspect of their appearance mean you have standards? Personally, I ask people if they are kind. If they allow others to have their own opinions and preferences with tolerance and acceptance. And, most importantly, if they can do the job I need them to do, competently and in good time. Those are my standards for people I hire - not whether they've chosen to commemorate a life-changing moment or person they adore on their body in a way that has been done since prehistory.But you do you, it'd be a funny old world if we were all the same...

  75. Anonymous

    Wouldn't a crowd follower be someone like you, not Liz? Since accepting people for their work quality vs appearance seems to go against the historical 'crowd'?

    The boss can have their opinions but they can also get in legal trouble for discriminating based on things that have nothing to do with this candidates job performance. I hope OP tells the candidate honestly and that the candidate can take legal action to set a precedent against hiring biases not based on anything but an "I don't like how she looks!" snowflake mindset.

  76. Anonymous

    It’s not fair. Her skills & work ethic should be the focal & not her tattoos. This is unfortunate for your company & the potential candidate.

  77. Anonymous

    (A) Life's not fair, so get over yourself.

    (B) The company has standards, which is why they're still in business. The company has every right to enforce appearance standards on its employees so they continue to be successful.

    The company isn't losing out on hiring this "neck-inked" candidate. On the other hand, I'd bet the candidate is losing out on many opportunities because of their appearance.

  78. Anonymous

    (A) If people kept that mentality forever, women literally wouldn't have gotten the right to vote. Culture progresses and changes, thankfully. So get over yourself.

    (B) The boss who said no is just one person in the company. They're an employee with bias that could get in trouble if this candidate were to go to a lawyer after finding out why they were dismissed. We don't know if the company owner shares this mindset or not.

    And yes, it sounds like the other candidates were not as qualified or talented as this "neck-inked" candidate. So, they would indeed be losing out on someone who could do the job better than many others. The candidate will be fine as long as they seek out companies with younger hiring managers who understand that appearance doesn't directly correlate with intelligence and work ethic. Look at the comments. Times are changing. I

  79. Anonymous

    It is not a receptionist's position to decide the applicability in an environment for entertaining customers. There usually is a dress code for generic staff but tattoos are not a limiting factor.

  80. Antoinette VanSchaick

    If the tattoos are not profane or vulgar, I would say that if she is as qualified as you feel she is, I would make a strong case for hiring her. Perhaps, you could ask her when she's meeting with clients, if that's part of her duties, to cover them up. When she's not meeting with clients, she doesn't have to do that.

    You will definitely find out how eager she is for the job, if she's a team player, and how professional she really is.

  81. Dr Nibedita Jena

    Would you check if there is certain rules or dress code for the office or the post? If the answer is no, then the Boss has no right to follow his own taboos in the office.

  82. Anonymous

    The boos have every right to set the appearance standards for their employees.

    Do you need to be reminded that employees don't own the company or, in fact, their job? If a boss feels visible tattoos don't belong in their workplace, then that needs to be respected.

    What job seekers don't have a right to is expecting employers to accept their choice to ink themselves as a pathetic attempt to get attention.

  83. Anonymous

    The boss that said no is also an employee. We don't know if the company owner /ceo would have a personal vendetta against tattoed people or not, based on what this person wrote.

  84. Anonymous

    Would depend on what the tattoo is for me. If it's something offensive, no. If it's just some symbols or text, fine by me. Even in client facing. Some people have tattoos - as long as it's not on their face, it's not going to bother a reasonable person in the slightest.

  85. Michele Darley

    The company I work for now, they would not care at all. We have employees with full sleeves, visible tattoos, biker beards, even in client facing roles.

    my last company it would have been an automatic disqualification. If your company has a handbook, I would look at that and see if there is a dress code. If it does not not mention any of those things I would go back to your boss with that information and ask if they would reconsider. Somebody’s hard skills are much more important than the way they look. Especially if they are not going to be in a client facing role.

  86. Explorer539760

    Many folks are still conservative. As k your boss if she would please reconsider if the young candidate was willing to cover her tats with makeup while at the office or company functions ? Of course your candidate would need to agree to that as well as deciding if they wanted to work in a conservative environment. Tough situation. I recruit for hard to fill roles so I know this had to be painful. Wishing you the best

  87. Maggie Stone

    I work in residential substance abuse where tattoos are common, so I may have a skewed view, but I think tattoos are more and more common, so your boss may have to get over their biases. Surely this person could wear collared shirts or use makeup.

  88. Anonymous

    Neck tattoos = Circus clown

    Using the word "prejudice" is LOL, LOL, LOL!!!!

    Getting inked is a person's choice, just like wearing a t-shirt with an offensive slogan, or a mini-skirt, or not bathing and having BO... which would not get you hired, right?

    You can't be prejudiced against someone's life choices.

    Grow up!

  89. Anonymous

    I'm starting to think there is only one emotionally volatile person in this comment thread, posting several times. I wonder if they really believe these things or if it's someone to boost engagement ?

  90. Anonymous

    Anyone with a visible tattoo is telling the world they are seeking attention and have poor judgement skills.

  91. Sam

    After hiring, would the director see the candidate? If the only reason for rejection is an opinion that does not impact the candidate's performance, I would go ahead with the hiring.

    In a way, it's discrimination...

  92. Anonymous

    Explain how it's "discrimination" against someone who, of their own free will, got a neck tattoo and now looks like a circus freak.

    You obviously don't know what the definition of "discrimination" is.

  93. Anonymous

    The boss needs to get over it. May not be her thing, but if those tattoos do not directly interfere with tasks of her job, then they should not be considered an issue. It is 2024. Just so you know, I am 62 and have no tattoos. I was raised not to do that, but I was also raised to accept people for they are, not what they wear, drive, or do for a living.

  94. Anonymous

    The boss has nothing to get over. They're in a position to make decisions. She made a decision for a reason(s) nobody here really knows why. How about respecting the boss's decision instead of trying to force her to go against what she deemed was the right thing to do?

  95. Anonymous

    I am a VP and I say get over it. That is being biased. While that particular bias is not illegal it is demonstrating a lack of tolerance and inclusivity.

  96. Kim Barden

    This candidate made a choice not to cover the tattoos during the interview.

    If the tattoos were distracting during the interview, they will be distracting on the job. When you're interviewing, you should make sure the focus is on what you bring to the organization - not on your tattoos, hair color, piercings, perfume/body odor, what you're wearing, etc. All of these things are choices. This candidate should have researched the company before the interview to find out what is considered appropriate. If they don't care about this when preparing for the interview, will they truly fit in with the company moving forward?

  97. Kim Barden

    I guess another question is: where do you draw the line? I once saw the guy who transformed his face into a tiger, another who had tattoos on his face like a lizard. These are extremes, of course, but I think we'd all agree that these individuals' tattoos/transformations would be distracting for certain jobs/companies.

  98. Anonymous

    Although I am not a fan of tattoos myself, I can tell you that the world is changing and perhaps your manager needs a reality check. I worked in a nursing school for several years and for the same reasons your manager mentioned, we were telling students that they would need to keep all tattoos covered while in clinicals. However, the students began to complain when they found themselves working with nurses who had visible tattoos. Did it make them less effective in their job? Absolutely not! So, we had to adjust our policy to the times we are living in. Many people have tattoos and to me it seems ridiculously outdated to turn down a good candidate for that reason alone. If it is such an issue, there are many good cover up makeups that can be used to keep the tattoo hidden.

  99. Anonymous

    First check the handbook to see if there’s anything that talks about tattoos .

    If not - then show your boss and ask her/ him to reconsider?

    if there is and it states they must be covered for client facing meetings and work functions. Ask your boss if we advise the candidate about the requirement and they are willing to comply will they reconsider?

    if your boss digs in their heals and won’t budge cause it’s an image they have directly for their team they want. You have to wonder if they truly intend to fulfill the position or just have one out there to make it look like they are doing better than they are or to give the illusion they are getting staff help.

  100. Anonymous

    This is the era we live in. Tattoos are becoming more and more acceptable. If her tattoos are not offensive then who cares. If she works with clients, clients could actually be drawn to her and appricate that she has tattoos making the client stay with your company.

  101. Anonymous

    Her tattoos aren't performing the job, her skills are. So if her skills are what you need, she should have gotten the job.

  102. Anonymous

    I've one potential employer respond to my question of do I need to cover my tattoos I have a half sleeve and randoms on the other arm and a full leg. he said does your tattoos affect the quality of your work or the ability for you to do your work if the answer is no then I don't care if you have tattoos. And quite honestly that's the only acceptable answer

  103. Monica

    I work in the Aerospace/Engineering industry and currently working with military. Over 36 years in the game and I see tattoos, colored hair, and piercings. There's one who has a small one on his face! Some of the people that had these things worked in the executive offices. It doesn't take away from these folks performing their jobs.

    I have tattoos but put them where they aren't easily seen. I wanted a nose piercing for a very long time and didn't do it for this reason. When I saw other Executive Assistants that had them, I decided to get mine. It hasn't impacted me landing any roles and there are times people don't even notice it.

    Things have really changed and depending on the type of tattoos she has, it can be worked around. Maybe keeping them covered (sweater, long sleeve)?

  104. Anonymous

    RE: "When I saw other Executive Assistants that had them, I decided to get mine."

    You're the definition of being a "sheep."

    Obviously, you only will mutilate your body as long as others do it first and so you can feel as if you belong, right?

  105. Anonymous

    No she’s not she had wanted one beforehand and feared she would have been deemed unprofessional. There are lots of sheep in the conservative professional world who blindly follow appearance policies to keep their job. It’s sad when it leads for disdain and prejudice For others that won’t follow such protocols

  106. Anonymous

    Considering the majority sub culture is to not have tattoos, wouldn't you be the "sheep" by your logic?

  107. Anonymous

    Because she has tattoos she might be "too liberal in her work" what? This is the oddist take I've heard on here. If she has the resume and ticks out all the boxes for the employer, it sounds like she's better at her job than most. Would you keep this same energy for people who have "deviated from social norms" with who they love, such as same sex married people? Would you extend your same logic to men who have cheated on their wives historically (a social stigma) , but held major positions of power?

  108. Anonymous

    How are tattoos equated with bad decisions? What would you say to someone who was culturally tattoed like a Maori person? They have tattooed Maori in government positions in New Zealand who are very capable. Your mindset of equating intelligence with outside appearances is antiquated and not based in anything scientific.

  109. Anonymous

    (a) The candidate with the neck tattoos didn't get them for "cultural" reasons. Nice try to deflect. They got them to try and get attention. If you think inking yourself to get attention isn't a bad decision, then |I don't know what to say.

    (b) In our society, we judge a person's appearance and make judgment calls based on how a person chooses to present themselves. If a person has made the decision to look like a circus freak, they can't expect to be taken seriously.

  110. Anonymous

    A) We have no idea if the tattoos are cultural in this scenario or not. This is not a deflective argument, it's one that points out the nuances an illogical, emotion based blanket statement implying "tattoos are bad and correlate with an inability to do your job well".

    B) You are entitled to your personal opinion. People also hold that belief about hiring POCs with certain hairstyles. It doesn't make it right. It's a cultural norm that deserves to be changed, the same way we've changed cultural norms that made it ok to not hire minorities because of their perceived differences.

  111. Anonymous

    Please tell us you're over the age of 50. Please.

  112. Tina Fletcher

    I am over the age of 50. I also have tattoos and piercings.

    Don't discriminate or make assumptions by age. ?

  113. Anonymous

    Apologies. There are many people over the age of 50 who don't discriminate against tattooed individuals. But statistically, I'd argue the vast majority of discrimination comes from people over the age of 50 vs younger generations who are much more comfortable with working with and hiring tattooed people.

    The previous comment was more about hoping the poster is leaving the workforce soon, with that kind of antiquated mentality.

  114. Anonymous

    For those who are bashing the candidate for her tats, what if they were scars? I have 3 rather prominent scars on my face, plus several on my hands. What can I say, I had a rough childhood. I have also has a successful career in several forward facing positions, as well as having earned a couple of college degrees and been in management positions. Should an employer be able to say that, due to my scars, I am ineligible for a position? And, no, some of them are not easily covered. Could these tattoos be an expression of an internal scar which to candidate carries?

  115. KathyAnn Krajcik

    They are not scars. Totally different thing.

  116. Anna Yaguchi

    It's antiquated thinking that unfortunately still exists today amongst those that control the purse strings.

    These folks fail to understand that within my lifetime I'm sure I'll see a U.S. President with visible tattoos, multiple piercings, and a heritage so mixed anyone trying to guess will say, "Okay I give up."

    I used to work for a very conservative logistics company that attempted to enforce a no visible tattoo, men's hair above the collar, no beards, and polish-able closed toe shoes only policy.

    By 2006 they acknowledged finding warehouse and loading dock workers without tattoos was an impossibility but they kept the rules the same for anyone rated "supervisor" or above. This kept up till the start of 2019 when they faced litigation and hired the third in a string consulting company to "fix" their employee satisfaction ratings. What this company failed to understand is.

    Facial hair is not just and aesthetic choice some people have legitimate skin issues

    I have wide feet and foot problems and I didn't get paid enough to afford special shoes that didn't kill my feet and back, met their dress code, and was good enough for a face to face with the VP of client X

    Also this isn't the military and it's not the 1960's what's with the hair above the collar B.S?

  117. Anonymous

    My opinion is going to be different from the majority. Accountants, even in junior rolls, are considered professional. Would you go to a lawyer or doctor with tatoos? I worked in the funeral home industry and if you had tatoos then they had to be covered. It's an image that your boss wants to maintain. It is not your place to question whether she is right or wrong. If you ask her to reconsider with long sleeves, dress pants, and makeup ~ I think you have one shot, I personally wouldn't push it.

    Personally I don't like them and dont have any, but it wouldn't necessarily stop me from going there.

    Good Luck.

  118. Anonymous

    Yes, I would go to those doctors and lawyers. I think people who have tattoos have a reason to get them, and if they simply got it one night on a dare- so be it. Tattoos do not define the person, their actions do.

  119. Anonymous

    I know several top of their game/best in their field lawyers who have tattoos. Yes most of them are easily hide-able under a long shirt or long pants. Heck I know a lawyer that has vibrantly green hair. She wears a wig to court but she's amazing and very competent on her job. Your statement is the same as "I would never hire someone who wears the color purple" it's ludicrous. There is makeup that covers tattoos effectively. For some those tattoos are culturally significant (like the maiori). All my tattoos are religious or culturally significant on one or other ways. Your attitude smacks of bias. You don't want good representation because you live in last century? Well you are the one that's going to suffer, not the professionals doing their jobs effectively.

  120. Anonymous

    I would 1000% go to a lawyer or doctor with tattoos. What does that have to do with anything?

  121. Lomaxruiter@yahoo.com

    I suspect many people already do this without even knowing they are doing it. Lots of professionals sport ink.

  122. Anonymous

    Yes, I would absolutely go to a doctor or lawyer with tattoos. To the person who originally shared the post thank you! This has certainly stood out as an amazing topic of discussion. I've enjoyed reading all of the comments. But I do want to remind folks, please be respectful of each other. This site as I understand it was made by women for women. It doesn't mean men cannot join the conversation, but it is a support site for women in the workplace. Let's not forget the mission here. Be kind and be respectful. Think before you type. Then if you think it is a maybe thing to write, first go look into a mirror and repeat what you want to say or what you want to type in the tone you intend. Ask yourself, am I helping or hurting.

  123. Janine McCargo

    My thoughts depend very much on the position and industry. Someone with a client-facing position in financial services or insurance should probably be a bit more conservative looking. Same if you're a PR agency and your biggest clients are Chik-fil-A and Hobby Lobby. But outside of those situations, it only matters if you can do the job.

  124. Anonymous

    Why should you look conservative in these roles? Looks have no impact on capabilities. This mindset is stale.

  125. Janine McCargo

    I, in fact, have tattoos and am growing out my natural hair. It's a matter of clients' comfort with the general rule of thumb being that the client's dress code is your own. It cuts multiple ways; it's not just about being conservative. If you wore a full suit to visit someone in west coast VC, it would have a negative impact similar to having a face tattoo when you're face to face with JPM. That said, I don't think it matters in accounting, operations, or IT, regardless of industry.

  126. Janine McCargo

    As a further follow-up, we're trying to get each other hired/promoted. Speaking for myself, I'm not a hiring manager. I'm sure that if you polled those of us who recommend caution, most would hire a tattooed professional all things being equal. But they aren't.

  127. Anonymous

    I’m personally not a fan of tattoos, but they are becoming more and more acceptable. I wouldn’t let tattoos stop me from hiring a highly-qualified candidate, especially if the role was not client-facing and had been vacant for some time.

    And if the role is client-facing, I’d suggest letting the new hire know to cover the tattoos up when meeting the clients — and with your director.

  128. Anonymous

    Whoa! I, too, prefer a conservative image and work in finance, but I can’t see equating tattoos with an inability to work in finance or accounting.

  129. Anonymous

    Companies need to be more accepting of tattoos in this market and time, more qualified candidates are being passed over because of this. I would agree that tattoos on the face and neck area wouldn't project a professional image to most, but it depends on the type of industry.

  130. Anonymous

    Their company, their rules.

  131. Liz Milne

    Except OP doesn't say the manager said 'It's against company policy' - she said, 'I don't want people like that in my dept' - I emphasise the I don't want part... Manager's personal tastes overriding company policy and denying the company a potentially excellent candidate is how I'm reading this one...

  132. Anonymous

    This is not a racial or cultural issue in most instances. Its not professional looking and other professionals and companies don't have to like or be accepting of it. I had one-a big one-and had it removed! How you present and are accepted is just a part of life.

  133. Anonymous

    It’s not a racial or cultural issue but o was denied a job based on appearance because of my natural hair. Apparently using damaging chemicals would have given me a more professional look and this issue was clumped in with tattoos etc. After being discriminated in this way I really loathe appearance discrimination.

  134. Lomaxruiter@yahoo.com

    CROWN ACT laws in several states protect discrimination based on natural hair. In these states it is recognized as racial discrimination.

  135. Anonymous

    Explain how it is "discrimination" when the candidate chooses to get the tattoos.

    Explain how it's discriminatory to judge someone by their life choices, which in this case is a very poor life choice.

  136. Liz Milne

    It is literally appearance discrimination to say: 'I don't like the way you look' - like... it's the definition of discrimination...

  137. Anonymous

    The difference is, "I don't like, or need to accept, the way y=YOU choose to look," as opposed to, "I don't like how your genetics make you look."

    Do you see the difference?

    Not liking how someone chooses to look isn't discrimination.

  138. Anonymous

    It’s appearance discrimination. I said I don’t like it after being being clumped in this category for my natural hair. Has this happened to you? Literally outcasted and clumped into a category for having a hairstyle that was BETTER for my hair. My life choice was not to put chemicals or excessive heat and it was deemed unprofessional. If I chose to do something more unhealthy, I would have been seen as more acceptable. Yet all the derogatory pictures of what was considered unacceptable included one discriminatory to my race. Are you saying I should have chosen a more unhealthy style to be accepted. Given I was refused a handshake for this reason. Have you ever faced such racial discrimination based on an appearance factor where you were deemed unacceptable and clumped in a categories with people with piercings and tattoos?

  139. Anonymous

    Do you play the race card much?

  140. Anonymous

    What is your actual problem?

    I guess that’s a no to my questions

  141. Anonymous

    Some people do not feel comfortable stating their identity as they might work with others in this forum and prefer to state their opinion in a protected environment.

    I love that FGB offers options to be anonymous or not. To each their own.

    Be held accountable to WHOM??? We all have different experiences and each have a valid point, whether or not we agree with one another wholeheartedly.

  142. Afo Ogbeyalu Kalu

    Given that they were interviewing within a conservative industry, the candidate should have covered the tattoos to better their chances in securing a position.

  143. Anonymous

    I disagree. Most posts relate to work problems and I would not necessarily share my views with co-workers or company management. I’ll give far more candid advice if I’m anonymous.

  144. Anonymous

    So someone getting a nose piercing is more a sheep than someone than a high priced job because that’s what I was commenting about. I could care less what you do as long as you are HAPPY with your life.

  145. bradford mccormick

    Is there any possibility of "working it out"? You say she is in her mid 20s. Maybe your boss is in her 40s? Maybe they "live in different worlds", where people in their 20s don't think tattoos are "a big deal" but people in their 40s have bad ideas about tattoos?

    So maybe the young person does not realize the disjuncture? Maybe if you talked it out she would understand the problem and offer that she would wear clothes which hid the tattoos at work? Similarly, the boss could realize that for young persons tattoos have a different meaning than for your customers "from a different generation"?

  146. Anonymous

    I know many 20s & 30s who think tattoos are unprofessional.

    Age is not a factor here. What is being questioned is the candidate being visibly inked, and what does that say about her character and judgement?

    UNDENIABLY, people who have visible tattoos look for attention and are very likely to be narcissistic, or, on the other hand, have low self-esteem and therefore get the tattoos to try and look "cool."

  147. Anonymous

    Undeniably, people who post over and over again about their personal vendetta against ink on the skin are very likely to be narcissistic, or, on the other hand, have low self esteem and therefore keep posting to try and seem "intelligent."

  148. Anonymous

    Makeup? Narcissistic. Dye your hair a different color to cover the grays? Narcissistic. Wear heals to look nicer? Attention drawing narcissist! See how silly that sounds? Altering ones appearance does not equate narcicism. Some people just like how it makes them feel.

  149. Lisa Waters

    So....if you are in a car accident and are seriously injured and they take you to a hospital ER. The ER Doctor has tattoos. Does that negate all the years of education he went through to become an MD? Are you going to refuse to be seen by him or her because they made "bad life decisions".

    While I don't personally have any, I know most are very personal and thought out. My co-worker has a full back piece that is truly a work of art. He is also one of the best employees we have ever had and yes, the pack piece extends to sleeves and they show.

    Leave the judgement at the door please. I went through a phase after my divorce and have a teardrop dermal. I am over 50 now and I have managed to get several positions and have been promoted three times in my current company. The boss is in the wrong here and I would go talk to them again before writing this girl off.

  150. Anonymous

    Completely inappropriate of your boss. Can you go around her?

  151. Anonymous

    Why would anyone go around their boss for a stranger?

    Your advice would get the poster either fired or certainly downgrade their relationship with their boss.

    Their boss made a decision. The poster now has to live with it and move on.

  152. Cheries Sundries

    that is a bias and is discrimination. Your boss is archaic and wrong. I don't care, and honestly, how often will anyone see them? It is the knowledge and ability that matter.

  153. Anonymous

    Explain how it is "discrimination" when the candidate chooses to get the tattoos. Explain how it's discriminatory to judge someone by their life choices, which in this case is a very poor life choice.

  154. Anonymous

    I run a large accounting organization in a large Fortune 100 organization. We are back office - we don't generally meet with clients or people outside of the company. Our entry level staff very seldom meet with internal C-Suites and executives. I'm in my 50's. I went to college in the era of an accountant wears hosiery, blue or black suits (red or pink or turquoise was considered too flashy - even men should wear blue or black with a conservative blue shirt and tie), tattoos should not be seen, and hair color should occur in nature. With my large organization I now have people with hair color that does not occur in nature, tattoos, beards that look like ZZ top, and a multitude of other things that would have been highly frowned upon 35 years ago. I personally prefer people look groomed and professional (grateful for no more blue suits, or god forbid - pantyhose, on a daily basis) but my definition is still probably a bit old school as the new generation doesn't see tattoos and pink, blue, or purple hair the same way. As long as they do good work - I'm ok. I will say though that until all of the boomers, gen X etc. move on it may be more difficult to move up in a conservative organization with some of these choices. I think you should have another conversation with your manager and basically say - are you sure - if people do good work and they aren't in running for the CFO position at this time, then does it matter. I assume you are looking for competent people who execute well and do quality work - if you think she meets your needs then it is worth another conversation. By the time the candidate is experienced enough to go for the C-suite, it will be a whole different environment so who knows - maybe the CFO will have a neck tattoo and purple hair in another 30+ years. Does your company have a policy on visible tattoos? If so, have that conversation with the applicant and tell her - our HR policy is to cover it. Which I'm guessing means a whole lot of turtlenecks and scarves. If no policy, kind of hard to enforce and it looks a bit discrimatory, even if tattoos are not federally protected.

  155. Anonymous

    Explain how it is "a bit discriminatory" when the candidate chooses to get the tattoos. Explain how it's discriminatory to judge someone by their life choices, which in this case is a very poor life choice.

  156. Anonymous

    What is your problem? You're posting all this negative crap on everyone's comments without anything constructive to say, anonymously so you think you're hiding yourself. You obviously have some real issues, maybe go find some help and get off a site where people are having serious conversations about important topics related to a work environment. Your judgements are not needed, asked for or appreciated.

  157. Anonymous

    Some might say that posting consistent angry vitrol against hiring people with tattoos falls under the "poor life choices" umbrella. Why are you so upset?

  158. Anonymous

    I have a neck tattoo that is often hidden by my hair, but sometimes visible. My wedding ring is tattooed on, and I have several others. I work in recruiting, and I sincerely believe that your boss's discrimination should be addressed. It's clear that her bias is based on appearances, and this is not acceptable. We don't know the woman's story; perhaps she is carrying on a family tradition, or maybe this is a way of life in her region of the world. Regardless, your boss's personal beliefs should not interfere with the company's success. Her idea of what someone "should" look like should not be a factor in the hiring process.

  159. Anonymous

    RE: "boss's personal beliefs should not interfere with the company's success."

    How do you know that "no visible tattoos" is not a company-wide policy?

    What makes you think the company insisting their employees look professional is not what makes them successful?

    Who are you, or anyone, to judge a hiring manager or company having standards regarding how their employees look?

    (All these non-business owners here are acting as if they know what it means to run a business!)

  160. Anonymous

    Projecting a professional image is essential in the accounting profession. Unfortunately, however, this is par for the course.

  161. Anonymous

    I believe this can fall under discrimination. My husband has visible upper body chest tattoos, that does fall just below a crew neck shirt. He also has a bicep tattoo. However, in the summer it is more difficult to cover. He meets with vendors occasionally and has never had issues.

    If a person fits all boxes, what’s the problem? If it’s sex discrimination, that’s a separate issue.

  162. Anonymous

    Tattoos are not a protected class.

  163. Sue Gordon- retired Career Coach

    It's 2024 and many, many professionals have tattoos. Heck, I recently got one and I'm several decades older. This should be a non-issue and your manager is behind the times. If she's a good candidate, how she chooses to adorn her body will not impact how the work is done. (Assuming a primary level of decency and that the tattoos aren't offensive).

  164. Anonymous

    If it's distracting, I would imagine this person would find getting a job far more challenging than those who don't have either visible tattoos or facial piercings.

    I once interviewed with a young woman whose nose piercing had a long chain attached that disappeared into her low-cut shirt and cleavage. I was uncomfortable.

    Although things have certainly loosened up over the years, I do feel that young folks today aren't learning proper etiquette. Sure, you can do whatever you want, but you cannot expect everyone to agree with your choices. You need to know that it could put up barriers.

    It is NOT discrimination. Tattoos are not a protected class.

  165. Heidi Csencsits

    Tattoos are no longer uncommon, and generationally, we will find more candidates with visible tattoos.
    At a hotel I stayed at, the front desk person who checked me in had an arm sleeve. I complimented her on it and she said the brand has relaxed their policy on tattoos as it broadens their candidate pools.

    I'm 57 and have a visible tattoo on my wrist, it is very simple, no color, and have had no issues with clients.

    We all need to broaden our points of view on not only this but other visible "things." If she had three noses, would that disqualify her? Bad acne? A wonky eye? Jobs should not be based on how a person looks, but on their ability to perform the job. It is not like wearing a low cut blouse - you can't remove a tattoo easily.

    Although it may not be considered discrimination today, it may be in the future. I don't know what the tattoo looks like, and I can't really judge.

    I don't like your glasses - fired.
    I don't like your shoes - fired.

    To apply your prejudice against others or to tell them "you must conform to my sensibilities) is selfish and demeans the value of a person as well as filling a job that has been open for months with a qualified candidate.

    "You can do what you want, but you cannot expect everyone to agree with your choices?" Will I not get hired because I'm a republican? Will I not get hired because I like country music? A tattoo is nothing more than permanent jewelry. Lighten up and give the girl the job. Good luck hiring junior candidates based on standards from 30 years ago.

  166. Anonymous

    Only after someone was accused of being a sheep for piercing their nose. If you are happy being a follower just be happy with it . A lot of people in current society are followers whether they are aware of it or not.

  167. Dianna Deeley

    Tattoos that can be seen - neck or facial tattoos - are a red flag for a lot of people, especially some older ones, like, sadly, me. I don't care if the employee has tattoos, provided they are not visible. That said: if the young woman is that good a fit, go to bat for her.

  168. Anonymous

    I mean, most white collar companies had this mentality about women and people of color not so long ago. Now they can get in legal trouble for not hiring someone based on gender or race. So the "their company their rules" mentality is not only outdated, it's harmful to not challenge it.

  169. Anonymous

    Is this a US based platform only? We have no idea of her tattoos are tribal also. The original poster did not specify. Why are you so angry?

  170. Anonymous

    Was it harmful to go against the norm and challenge work places for not wanting to hire women?

  171. Anonymous

    How do you know that I didn't try to commit suicide via the rope? Because I was in pain? How do you know I didn't try to slash my wrists because I couldn't handle life anymore? Am I going to have a conversation with my potential employer to explain this?

    No one has brought this up, but there are several cultures where neck tats are common when someone who is loved and respected dies. All those ethnic groups are protected classes.

  172. Zeecil Kimmel

    While I personally do not care for tattoos, they are very accepted in the world today. While once it might have meant trouble, today it's considered permanent jewelry. As long as the tattoo is not offensive it should not be a basis for disqualifying a candidate who checks all the boxes.

  173. Anonymous

    This is the only rational anti-tattoo post I've come across here. You acknowledge your personal distaste for a choice you don't like, but accept that it has nothing to do with how fantastic a candidate can be that checks off the boxes, work and skill wise.

  174. Zeecil Kimmel

    Thank you for the compliment

  175. K. Kelly Pedersen

    I'm a "Xennial" - Gen X and Millennial. The Gen X side of me definitely grew up hearing visible tattoos were "unprofessional" and came with negative assumptions, and I saw how much people worked to cover them up to land jobs in office, healthcare, hospitality, etc. settings. The Millennial side of me understands that it's a very antiquated, narrow and biased (possibly discriminatory) view. Body ink/body art does not correlate with intelligence or work ethic. "Unprofessional" used to, also, mean tight/fitting clothing, open-toed shoes, multiple ear piercings, long fingernails, lots of makeup, certain hairstyles, etc. Unless it's explicitly spelled out in a dress code, and they're not offensive, visible tattoos are no reason to dismiss a knowledgeable, credentialed, capable candidate.

  176. Anonymous

    Your manager needs to keep up with the times. No one is going to find someone who ticks all the boxes.

  177. Liz Milne

    If it's your company, absolutely fair, you have the right to work with whoever you think is the best fit.

    However, finding tattoos 'distracting' is a bit weak - does that mean a male boss is allowed to comment on/ discriminate against a large-breasted employee, because he finds her assets 'distracting'? Or do we see that as a him-problem which it is on him to learn to deal with? Personally, I think the latter...

    I'm more of a live-and-let-live person: as long as they can do the job; are honest and punctual, I don't care what they look or dress like (within a certain amount of reason) and that includes most dyed hair, piercings, tattoos etc

  178. Anonymous

    That's so weird! Since when are accountants the public face of a company? What idiots!

  179. Anonymous

    The OP doesn’t name the company … perhaps it’s an accounting and consulting company? They would then be the face of a company working with external clients…

  180. Anonymous

    My last comment on this issue. Does the boss realize that more and more companies are being opened and taken over by people with Tattoos and Natural or Not so Natural Hair?

    If I own an accounting firm, I would want business. If I had a potential client that owned a tattoo shop, would I want to pair them with a stuffy accountant who assumed they "mutilated their body" or would I want them to work with someone that understood them and could "speak their language"? This is why diversity is so important - not just men/women. Race is important, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Appearance, Etc.

  181. Anonymous

    I do not have tattoos, but many family members and co-workers do. I too, am an accountant at a conservative company that requires tattoos to be covered. Having tattoos is not a reflection of how well you do your job, but having visible tattoos can be a reflection on decision making (not my thoughts-but management). Having a visible tattoo in a career where visible tattoos are often seen as taboo, can be seen as 'bad' decision making. Management will often think this 'bad' decision making will carry over into their work.

    My kids will someday be in professional work settings and I always tell them that if they want a tattoo, make sure it's in a place that can be covered by normal work attire.

  182. Anonymous

    I understand what you're saying reflects certain persistent workplace sub cultures still, but if we take a step back and observe this judgment, it honestly sounds less intelligent to assume people have "bad judgment" that carries over to being able to complete a work task, just because they have ink on their skin.

    In today's era of questioning why we have certain traditions or beliefs, especially those not founded in research/science, I'd be more inclined to think employees who truly believe hair color, weight, ethnic hairstyles, or tattooes can correctly correlate with poor task delivery, are not good teammates to have. Perhaps that's a new form of judgment but I'd rather work with people who can do a great job and work well with others, than people who might look "good" according to certain cultural standards, but make a more hostile work environment for others.

  183. Anonymous

    I agree. But I am not in management and cannot change the rules. I do not feel this way, but many of our clients do, so management enforces a strict dress and appearance policy.

  184. Anonymous

    I am reading a lot of responses of those that are pro tattoo cutting down those that are anti tattoo.

    the judgment and criticism of someone that is anti tattoo is absolutely no different than the judgement the anti tattoo people place on those with tattoos. Please be careful when voicing your opinion.

    policy or not if the person hiring does not like tattoos they don’t have to hire the person and no laws are being broken.

    I love tattoos but respect that some people do not.

    last, what one person finds offensive another may not so then that becomes another issue based on matter of opinion.

  185. CMT

    Great response

    agree

  186. Anonymous

    I've mostly seen what seems to be *one *belligerent anti tattoo person here jumping to conclusions, shaming commenters personally, and giving out insults. Others sound reasonable with their personal distaste. I haven't come across any pro tattoo belligerent posts on the other hand but perhaps I haven't read through all of these.

  187. Anonymous

    Eh, this is a fine line to walk. Some aspects of culture do deserve to be challenged and changed. Insert "policy or not if the person hiring does not like [ethnic hairstyles] they don’t have to hire the person and no laws are being broken."

    This was true up until maybe 5-10 yrs ago. It was understood that if you had an afro or braids and the hiring manager didn't like it, they can say you're not fit, no matter how intelligent or capable you are.

    It was a norm that was challenged and shamed and has (slowly) changed to reflect a more progressive view of what constitutes a qualified employee, at least in the US.

  188. Anonymous

    Good analogy. I think if this personal opinion of disliking ink on the skin didn't affect the livelihood of talented individuals, I'd agree with the original poster here.

    If it's just a debate about pro vs anti tattoo in general, it's a solid argument that both sides are judging the other.

    But if it's a debate about personal preference on appearance dictating if someone gets hired who is super skilled for the job, then it should be challenged.

  189. Anonymous

    Was this response to the comment right above you or the original one? My comment was to ironically use the exact same "crazy"inflamatory language she (you?) used:

    "UNDENIABLY, people who have visible tattoos look for attention and are very likely to be narcissistic, or, on the other hand, have low self-esteem and therefore get the tattoos to try and look "cool."

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