Celebrating National Tattoo Day, July 17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Kathryn Klopfer, [email protected] | 262.696.3426

Celebrating National Tattoo Day, July 17

MILWAUKEE, WI (July 2, 2019) – July 17 is National Tattoo Day and that means more than 45 million or 29 percent of Americans aged 18 or older will be celebrating this holiday, according to a 2015 Harris Poll. The popularity of tattoos continues to increase. The percentage of Americans with tattoos has nearly doubled over a 12-year period (Harris Poll).

One might assume that this increase is due to millennials, 47 percent of which have a tattoo; however, Gen Xers follow close behind with 36 percent, and Baby Boomers at 13 percent as shown in the 2015 Harris Poll. What once was thought to be rebellious is becoming more and more mainstream leaving business leaders to wonder what their company policies should be regarding tattoos in the workplace.

“Business” or “employment” is listed as one of the top reasons an individual chooses to remove a tattoo. An estimate from the organization Support Tattoos and Piercings at Work (STAPAW) showed nearly ¾ of employees felt tattoos and piercing hurt their job interview chances. According to studies published in an inc.com article, opinions range significantly. One research study from Michael T French, Karoline Mortensen, Andrew R Timming published in the SAGE Journals “found no empirical evidence of employment, wage or earnings discrimination against people with various types of tattoos.” It did not matter if the tattoo was visible or not, or whether the person had one or many tattoos. Even respondents who described their own tattoos as "offensive" felt they suffered no employment or economic disadvantage.

However, also from the inc.com article and according to a study from the Academy of Management, “applicants with extreme tattoos were less likely to be hired and applicants with mild or severe tattoos were offered lower starting salaries than those without body art,” further demonstrating the difference in opinions that exist regarding tattoos in the workplace.

The STAPAW website states, “Tattoos in America are a form of expression and are protected from criminal law by the Constitution, but, are not federally protected in the workplace.”

MRA—the Management Association recommends that businesses need to incorporate clear and specific language in their corporate policy. If visible tattoos are prohibited, this must be stated in the company’s written dress code. The written policy must be reasonable, needs to be followed consistently for all employees, and cannot discriminate against any individual who may have a tattoo for religious, ethnical or other reasons.

Regardless of whether an employer has a tattoo or not, or whether an unconscious bias exists against tattoo preferences, when choosing to hire or not hire a candidate, with or without a tattoo, company culture and a written business policy needs to be the determining factor.

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About MRA—The Management Association: Founded in 1901, MRA is a nonprofit employer association that serves 4,000 employers, covering more than one million employees worldwide. As one of the largest employer associations in the nation, MRA helps its members thrive by offering comprehensive HR services, talent management, learning and organization development opportunities, and total rewards planning. MRA helps organizations build a successful workplace and powerful workforce. Headquartered in Waukesha, WI, MRA has regional offices in Palatine, IL; Moline, IL; and Plymouth, MN. To learn more about MRA, visit www.mranet.org.