Tattoos in the Workplace Download

Tattoos in the Workplace Download

Discrimination

Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts

7th Jan 2025(Last updated Jan 8th 2025)

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Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts

7th Jan 2025(Last updated Jan 8th 2025)

If you’re allowing tattoos in your business, it’s advantageous to have a workplace tattoo policy, our experts have created a workplace policy example for you to download.

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In the modern business world, many of your employees will have tattoos – especially if you have younger candidates applying for vacancies. But there are companies within the UK that are against tattoos in the workplace.

When hiring staff members, it’s important you understand whether you can refuse a candidate because they have a tattoo – and if you’re even allowed to. One way to manage this is to create a workplace tattoo policy.

Our experts have created a workplace tattoo policy to help you and ensure you stay legally compliant. Having a policy will mean you avoid any potential discrimination against tattoos in the workplace.

Are tattoos acceptable in the workplace?

There’s no specific legal protection against discrimination based on someone having a tattoo. Except for religious marking, body art isn’t a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. Making it the employers discretion regarding tattoos in the workplace.

However, you need to take into account the positive impact surrounding allowing tattoos in the workplace – such as opening up your hiring pool.

But, ACAS has told employers that it’s wrong to reject a candidate because they have a tattoo. Unless it’s offensive or inappropriate. This should be made clear in your workplace tattoo policy.

What is tattoo discrimination at work?

Tattoo discrimination in the workplace is when you treat someone unfairly because they have a tattoo. But as previously mentioned, there are no laws surrounding tattoos in the workplace.

But if you believe a candidate has an offensive or inappropriate tattoo for your workplace, you can reject them for this reason.

Arguments for and against tattoos in the workplace

As everything, there are both positives and negatives to allowing tattoos in the workplace – and attitudes are changing. More and more of your employees will have tattoos, and you need to be aware of this.

So let’s take a look at both the positives and negatives to having tattoos at work:

Arguments for tattoos in the workplace:

Opens up your talent pool when hiring.
Stronger employee relations as our employees will feel they can show their identity.
Candidates could reject the role due to not feeling accepted.
You’ll avoid tattoo discrimination in the workplace.

Arguments against tattoos in the workplace:

Some tattoos, such as face tattoos can look unprofessional for client facing roles.
Some tattoos could be seen as offensive and could lead to complaints.

Do you need a workplace tattoo policy?

If you’re allowing tattoos in your business, it’s advantageous to have a workplace tattoo policy included within your dress code policy. This policy will make it clear to all your employees the rules surrounding tattoos in the workplace – such as covering offensive tattoos.

It will also avoid any grey area you may encounter involving an employee having tattoos. Peninsula has created a workplace tattoo policy example for you to download and use when needed.

What to include in a workplace tattoo policy?

When creating a workplace tattoo policy, there are areas that should be covered Such as but not limited:

Allowing tattoos in the workplace.
That the tattoos are capable of being covered up when required.

Download our workplace tattoo policy example now and discover the other points that should be included when creating your policy, allowing you to manage tattoos in your company correctly.

Download your free workplace tattoo policy example now

Our team of experts have put together a free workplace tattoo policy that will make up part of your overall dress code policy. So you can manage tattoos in the workplace correctly. Access your workplace tattoo policy example now.

If after downloading our workplace tattoo policy you still need advice, our teams provide 24/7 HR advice which is available 365 days a year. We take care of your business needs when you work with our HR experts.

Peninsula also offers documentation services, handbooks and policies to suit your needs and stay compliant. Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with a qualified HR consultant today.