In some sectors and jobs, tattoos and piercings are still taboo. What do you do then: hide them or not?
What does the law say?
Since 2007, there has been an anti-discrimination law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of 19 criteria. These include gender, race, age, political beliefs, language, and appearance. However, tattoos and piercings are not included in this, and thus are not protected by this law.
However, an employer cannot treat you differently because of your tattoos or piercings, as this would still count as discrimination even apart from this law. However, a company can ask you to cover your tattoos or piercings if there is a valid reason for it.
What are these valid reasons?
According to Securex, the reason must be objective and reasonably justified. Specifically, an employer can ask you to remove piercings or other jewelry for hygiene or safety reasons. Jewelry could potentially get stuck in machinery or collect dirt, for example. Additionally, your employer can also ask you to cover tattoos to protect the company's image.
Furthermore, the reason must be proportionate to the intended goal. Therefore, your employer must establish clear rules about tattoos and piercings in the employment regulations. A rule does not apply to all positions. For example, you cannot ask an administrative assistant to remove piercings for safety reasons. Similarly, someone who never interacts with clients cannot be asked to cover tattoos to protect the company's image.
What do you do when you're applying for a job?
When applying for a job, you often don't know how a company feels about tattoos and piercings. So, you will have to ask about the company culture. If you're applying through a temp agency, it's best to ask these questions before visiting their client.
What if you already work and want to get a tattoo or piercing?
In that case, you should first check the employment regulations or ask your supervisor. They should be able to provide you with the right answer.