In the last few of weeks I have been in a doctor’s office numerous times for different procedures. On one of these visits, I read an article in a dermatology magazine but I cannot recall specifics or find it on the web. I did find the the study which was conducted by American Academy of Dermatology. The article stated that 48% of American workers between the ages 18 to 29 have a tattoo or a body piercing other than in the earlobe.
In my prior life I worked in corporate America and remember the issues we ran into with tattoos and tongue piercings. I remember at one point that neither tattoos nor piercings were permitted by the company at all. If someone wanted to work for the company, they had to cover any visible tattoos and/or (usually and) remove any piercings other than in the earlobe. That was years ago and some of those rules were relaxed. But as you search for younger workers, or as they move up in your organization, you may wantto review your corporate dress code.
Do your employees present the desired image for your company in the marketplace and specifically to your customer base? On the other hand, are you losing potentially strong employees due to a dress code policy that stifles the younger generation’s style?