Tattoos In The Workplace: Tattoo Discrimination At Work

So, it is clear that some employers have opposing opinions on body art and tattoos in the workplace, but what are the laws about having a tattoo at work, and what legal protection do employees and employers have?

Apart from religious markings, body art is not considered a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010; therefore, employers are free to base their hiring decisions on visible tattoos and employment on this aspect alone.

Furthermore, in certain circumstances and where there are no contentious issues to consider, such as an employee displaying offensive or inappropriate tattoos in the workplace. (as well as taking into account an employee’s length of service) Employers could consider visible tattoos at work, especially if they are deemed offensive tattoos in the workplace, as a valid reason to dismiss existing employees, primarily if they frequently deal with clients and customers.

Stephen Williams, Acas Head of Equality, states:

“Businesses are perfectly within their right to have rules around appearance at work, but these rules should base themselves on the law where appropriate, and the needs of the business, not managers’ personal preferences about visible tattoos in the workplace.”

Therefore, it is understandable that some companies want an employee tattoo policy and encourage a professional image through their workforce. Employers that adopt an unreasonably strict policy in their recruitment decisions on body modifications and visible tattoos and the workplace risk losing out on many skilled workers from the younger generation due to possibly outdated negative attitudes towards tattoo acceptance in the workplace.

People who like to have body art and tattoos done can’t get put into one category. On the one hand, you have someone like David Beckham OBE, who has nearly 80 tattoos. Many are visible, covering much of his body. David Beckham is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and ambassador for the football World Cup in Qatar in 2022, but nobody considers him to have inappropriate tattoos at work. You could also find a city investment banker with just as many tattoos, but he hides his tattoos in the workplace below the collar line with a suit, as his appearance matters more in his role.

Many people now have at least one tattoo, but turning up for work or a job interview and displaying face tattoos in the workplace would be rightfully frowned upon, making their employment status far more complicated. Even for the employee to retain their current job or get a new position, workplace tattoo acceptance may be an issue. Perhaps many employers should have a more lenient workplace tattoo policy, which would benefit businesses and aspiring young professionals who wish to display tattoos in workplace environments.

The law may not fully protect either side, the employer or employee, but as times change, tattoos and work shouldn’t necessarily be the issue it once was. The tattoos at-work policy has been an ongoing issue for years. Many highly skilled professionals have chosen to get religious markings and body art and then felt victimised at work by having visible tattoos and job discrimination.

Both employees and employers should familiarise themselves with employment laws about tattoos. You can resolve many issues through good communication and understanding from both parties by following the proper process.

It is also important to remember that drafting or updating any dress code or tattoo at work policy is not discriminatory regarding sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, etc.

What one person may deem an offensive tattoo in the workplace may be perfectly acceptable to someone else. Offence can be very personal, although keeping a good working environment and multiple employees happy at work is essential. A very obvious example of what may appear as an offensive tattoo at work would be a swastika. A swastika generates a lot of strong feelings for quite apparent reasons after the Nazi party adopted it. The swastika has a long history that dates back well before the Nazi party adopted it as it came from the Sanskrit meaning “good fortune” or “well-being” and is a sacred symbol in Buddism, Hinduism and Jainism. So, just from this one example, you can see how tattoos at work could get tattooed on an employee for two significantly different purposes.

Before taking action against an employee and possibly being accused of discrimination against tattoos in the workplace, it would be advisable to check workplace laws about tattoos being adhered to regarding the subject matter of any suspected offensive body art.