There’s a workplace debate brewing today about body art, especially when it comes to visible piercings and tattoos. It seems like these days, everybody is covered in tattoos, telling me this is not a passing fad. How can it be? It’s permanent. Here today, and still here tomorrow.
The biggest debate surrounding body art is whether our “bosses” have the right to ask us to cover up (reminding me of President Clinton’s discriminatory military policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell” from the 1990’s). Is it ethical? I’m guessing there’s a group of painted “Millennials” who would all give a resounding “no”. In my opinion, asking employees to remove their nose ring, or cover up a tattoo, is like saying I’m prohibited from giving my boss the “thumbs up” (which may be the case in Iraq, Greece or West Africa, but let’s keep that between us). How many of your co-workers are tattooed? You may be surprised to learn that many of them (I’ve read as many as 7 out of 10) do in fact hide body art under their blazers.
Interviewing is nerve wracking enough without being judged by your outward appearance. Some offices are very corporate, while others are less so. And while some may seem impressive on the outside (ie: beautiful building, extraordinary landscaping, etc.), once you get through the front door, you realize looks can be deceiving. The reality is, a good job is about having a good employer, supportive staff and an enthusiastic team spirit. It’s a rare combination, but it does exist.
I had an interview once that touches on this very subject. Interestingly enough, of all the places I had interviewed at, this particular place gave me the chills. The building, while stunning to look at, reminded me of an eerily futuristic science fiction film - it was devoid of people, warmth and hospitality (in other words, uninviting). I always have to remind myself, it’s not just the potential employee that’s being interviewed, but also the employer.
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BOOK EXCERPT
Hillary Hikida placed a purple file folder before her on the boardroom table, which she opened up, retrieving my resume and a blank note pad. She put my resume aside and taking her fountain pen began to scribble notes on the notepad. Moments passed before she put her pen down and shifted her focus back to me. What a strange, strange place, I mused to myself. The cloak and dagger ordeal trying to gain entrance into the building, the excruciatingly long wait in reception, and now the long silence. While Acmetech Pharmaceuticals could easily boast having one of the most architecturally stunning buildings in the city, it’s cool chrome exterior gave off a chilly vibe. Not surprisingly, the interior was no different.
And then suddenly, out of nowhere, I decided that even if I did interview with all four managers, I didn’t want the job. What I had witnessed at Acmetech so far was not good, and I decided to follow my gut instinct on this one. And as I listened to Hillary, who finally began to speak, my instinct was confirmed.
“Here at Acmetech, we don’t condone visible piercings or tattoos,” she advised. “Would you be willing to remove your nose ring?” I wasn’t completely surprised, but I was definitely speechless at her request, at least for the moment. It didn’t take long to formulate my answer.
“No. Absolutely not,” I responded, pointblank and standing my ground. What if my nose ring was for religious purposes? She’d freak out if she knew I had tattoos under my blouse. Suddenly, the room felt very cold. I felt a shiver run up my spine.
“That’s too bad,” she began, finally taking her gaze off me. “As I said, Acmetech’s policy is no visible piercings or tattoos. We can’t force you to remove the nose ring. However, we do expect a level of flexibility from you in this regard.” The pounding of my heart in my ears drowned out Hillary’s voice. What I felt like doing was standing up and marching out of the room, but I couldn’t do that to Kelly’s [temporary service]. They had been too good to me over the years, and I felt I owed them a little professionalism. Still, the whole interview process seemed pointless. It was fairly evident the decision not to hire me had already been made. Which was just fine with me because I didn’t want the job anyways.
END OF BOOK EXCERPT
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Regardless of what we look like, we should never be judged by anything other than what we bring to the table; not just our skills and experience, but also our ability to work well with people. Because, at the end of the day, without that, we’re just puppets on a string. As people, in any environment (but especially so in an office), we need to care and support one another and treat each other as we would our friends. Otherwise, our workplace can become stale or worse yet, toxic. Besides, a little body art helps to brighten up the workplace!
Editor’s Note: This blog was originally posted May 12, 2013. At that time, the above book excerpt was still part of the original manuscript. However, after a year of editing, the above chapter ended up on the cutting-room floor.
