Tattoos & Body Piercings (page 1 of 2)	
Tattoos & Body Piercings	


 

	 
   	
	
Where Are People Getting Tattoos?
What are tattoos and body piercings (also known as body art)?  
According to Mayo Medical Clinic, tattoo is a permanent skin design made
 with color pigments inserted 
through pricks into your skin.  The tattoo machine is like a hand-held sewing machine with several needl
es 
piercing the skin repeatedly to insert ink droplets.  The process causes bleeding and slight to much pain.  
Risks of tattoo process includes allergic reactions to the dyes; skin infections, bumps (called granulomas) 
around tattoo; raised skin areas (called keloids or scar tissue) aroun
d tattoo; blood diseases such tetanus, 
hepatitis-B, hepatitis-C from unclean tattoo equipment; and problems wit
h MRI exams (tattoo eyeliner 
causes incorrect MRI images for eye problems).   Body piercing is the practice of puncturing or cutting a 
part of human body (such as ear, nose, or tongue) to create an opening in which jewelry may be worn.
Do employers have a right to reject a job seeker because of a tattoo or body piercing?
Yes.  Employers have a right to set dress and appearance rules as long as
 the employer does not 
discriminate against a person's race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, or 
gender. Tattoos and body piercings are not listed as First Amendment rights.  Dress codes are legal that 
require short hair for men (and allow long hair for women); and no vis
ible body piercings (but allow 
women to wear pierced earrings).  Employers may discrimination against 
visible body art if employer fears 
that employees with body art might harm the professional image of the co
mpany.  75% of 
employers consider body art unprofessional.  CareerBuilder survey found 
the following 
personal traits prevents workers from promotions:  
Piercings (37%); Bad breath (34%); Visible tattoo (31%); Wrinkled clothes (31%); Messy 
hair (29%); Dress too casual (28%); Too much perfume or fragrance (12%) 	

 	
	 





	







	



 

 	
More People Getting Tattoos Has Been . . . 
Source: 
Pew Research Source: 
Tattoo Industry	


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Age:	
Source: Tattoo Industry	
Education 
Level of 
Persons With 
Tattoos

Permission to use with usworkworld.com subscription.  
QUICK CHECK:	
Tattoos & Body Piercings (page 2 of 2)	
1. a) What is a tattoo machine like?  b) How does 
it work?  c) What does the process cause?
2.  List 6 risks of the tattoo process.
3.  What is body piercing?
4.  What do employers have a right to set?
5.  Is body art a First Amendment right?
6.  What percent of employers consider body art 
unprofessional?
7.  List the top 5 personal traits that prevent 
  workers from promotions.
8.  Graph:  a) Which education level of persons get 
most tattoos?  b) Which level is second?
9.  What percent think tattoos have been a change 
for the worse:  a) 18-29 year olds?  b) 50-65 
year olds?  c) Persons 65+ years old?
10.  a) In your opinion, in which age group are most 
What types of jobs are body art friendly?
A fancy hotel may not hire a job seeker for concierge (personal assistant for hotel guests) 
with tattoo of skulls and crossbones on back of the hand, but the same h
otel may hire job 
seekers with this tattoo for a dishwasher in kitchen.  Some employers (
such as Subway, 
WalMart, Google, Amazon) may allow visible body art depending upon hiring manager's 
opinion.  Other employers (such as airlines and hospitals) may have st
rict rules that say, 
"Do not hire job seekers with visible body art."  Body art rules vary by
 state, company, 
and manager's opinion of body art. To find out if an employer hires applicants with body 
art, visit the work site and look at workers who work there to find out if body art is 
acceptable.  Will workers with body art receive promotions to management jobs?  The 
answer in today's work world is often "no."  Employers' opinions may cha
nge in the 
future to become more body art friendly.  
Why do people decide to try to remove tattoos?
According to a survey: 58% just decide to remove it; 57% removed because
 tattoo was embarrassing; 38% 
did not feel good about his or herself because of the tattoo; 38% wanted
 a new job or career that did not 
accept tattoos; 37% had a problem with clothes; 25% experienced stigma (
negative image view by others).  
How are tattoos removed?  Tattoo removal is very difficult.  Removal methods 
include: 1) Laser surgery where Q-switch lasers release powerful pulses of energy 
to heat and shatter the tattoo ink.  Multi-color tattoos require different laser wave -
lengths, and many sessions are necessary and may never erase the tattoo 
completely.  
2) Dermabrasion (tattoo skin is sanded down with high-speed abrasion w
heel that 
allows tattoo ink to leach out of the skin, but tattoo may not completel
y erase).  
3) Surgical removal where the tattoo is removed with a scalpel.  Edges of skin
 are 
stitched together.  Surgical removal leaves scars and is used for small tattoos only.	
of managers who hire job seekers?  b) As 18-29 
year olds become hiring managers, do you think 
the work world views of body art will change?  
  c) Give a reason for your answer.
11.  Which body part gets the most tattoos:  
  a) For males?  b) For females?
12.  In what job may a fancy hotel allow body art?
13.  Which employers may allow body art? 
14.  Which employers may not allow body art?
15.  How do you find out if body art is allowed?
16.  a) Are workers with body art promoted to 
  management?  b) What may happen in future?
17.  List the top 4 reasons tattoos are removed.
18.  Describe how tattoos are removed by:  
  a) Laser.  b) Dermabrasion.  c) Surgery.
19.  a) Do you think that body art should be allowed 
in all jobs?  b) Give reasons for your answer.