Are Tattoos unprofessional?

By MACY MAXWELL/Contributor

Do tattoos have an effect on professionalism in the workplace?

Michael T. French of the University of Miami and his colleagues surveyed more than 2,000 people in the United States. They found that those with tattoos were not less likely to be employed than their un-inked competitors.

They also discovered that the average earnings were the same for both groups, according to a published study of their work.

Despite this research, some people say that tattoos are the worst thing one can have if they hope to get a job.

Nathan Eastlund, a regional manager for Dutch Bros, and his operator, Josie Hamilton, both have visible tattoos. They are in charge of four Dutch Bros locations around Tyler.

Hunter Harvey, a Dutch Bros employee, has over 20 visible tattoos, none of which are profane or inappropriate in nature. He says that he has never had an issue finding a job.

“This is the first job that I have had such prominent tattoos. I had over five when I was hired,” Harvey said. “I believe I had two at my last job in a restaurant kitchen, and it wasn’t cared about there either.”

Pamela Nash, a controller for Estis Oil and Gas Co. in Kilgore, has three tattoos, one of which is visible in her everyday work attire. Nash’s company has no rules about visible tattoos, and she said that people outside of work are the only ones who have ever told her that tattoos will affect her in a professional setting.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had any complaints about tattoos from a particular customer or client of mine, or an employee or [a] boss. It was just someone looking to make an unnecessary comment,” Nash said.

Nash has three employees who work under her, all of which have some type of visible tattoo or piercing.

“I’ve never had any complaints from anybody, the CEO and CFO, [they] have never said anything about it,” Nash said.

Companies that have tattoo policies normally will state that tattoos may not be profane or inappropriate.

Alex Newcomb, the American State Bank human resources officer and assistant HR director, said that the bank’s policies on tattoos are in the interest of professionalism.

“Visible tattoos that may be distracting or offensive to internal or external customers should be kept covered at work,” Newcomb said.