Piercings and tattoos at work

Originally posted by getreadyalready
We should stop lying to our kids, and start trying to develop the things they are good at, at an early age, instead of grooming them all to be accountants and lawyers and doctors. We need some engineers, mechanics, cooks, and dishwashers as well, and they might as well get good at it!

Amen to that. Add welders and machinists to that as well. We also need for them to be able to pass a very basic test.....................a drug test.

reply to post by JIMC5499


Yep!!! Believe me, it took over 200 applications before I got the first interview for a government job! I completely understand!

Also, when I was young, I wanted nothing more than to work at the mall where I could flirt with the girls. I applied over, and over, and I never got the first call back? I am a good-looking guy, but apparently I didn't have the right style, or the right connection for a mall job? Seems silly now, but it was extremely frustrating at the time. It was the first time I reallly didn't get what I wanted, no matter how much effort I put into it. It was an eye-opener. Perhaps I needed more tattoos, and ripped jeans?

Nowadays, my salt and pepper hair open a lot of doors even though I am only 37. Soon enough though, it will become a hindrance as I start to look "too old" for certain jobs.

ETA:

Amen to that. Add welders and machinists to that as well. We also need for them to be able to pass a very basic test.....................a drug test.

Yes, definitely add those two!! And all other trade-craft. We really need to re-institute the old apprentice system. I've known kids that were experts in some field by age 16, because they worked with their fathers. I know others approaching 40 that are still attempting to "find themselves."

This is the part of our education system that is failing.

Originally posted by Evolutionsend
There comes a point where old folks need to be recognized as the minority party poopers that they are, and ignored.

Minority? What planet are you living on? They are the current MAJORITY.

reply to post by yeahright


My advice to you then.. avoid Tequilla.. and Vodka... things have a way of happening

reply to post by JIMC5499


What does socialism have to do with standing up for yourself in solidarity with others that feel the same way you do?

reply to post by getreadyalready


I got my first choice of careers. I wanted my aircraft mechanic's license and went into the Navy to get it. Worked in the field for several years until I hurt my back. Went to school a few times and ended up as a mechanical engineer. I made my coments about machinists and welders, because, we could use a few of each. We just lost 9 people because they didn't pass the drug test last week. Last thing you want is 10,000 lbs of steel on the crane and somebody doped up operating it. We didn't want to start the drug tests, but, our insurance company made us.

reply to post by Evolutionsend


I have no problem with solidarity. That's why I wave at other bikes on the road.......... and jeeps, LOL!

But, solidarity in a workforce = socialism. When a business owner is not free to make their own decisions, then we have a problem. It isn't always a bad thing. It can be effective. If a business owner is crooked, immoral, abusive, etc, then the workforce should walk out and find a better employer or start their own. My Credit Union is member owned, many businesses are employee owned, nothing wrong with that whatsoever.

But, if the business owner is providing an otherwise decent living, with benefits, and the complaint is frivolous, then it is a drastic misuse of solidarity.

reply to post by Evolutionsend


Solidarity + Work Place = Union = Socialism

Through out history.

reply to post by JIMC5499


I'm not talking about a union, I'm talking about society using it's influence to define what should and shouldn't be allowed at work. A few people in high places are defining this, and you're supporting them.

I also do not think you represent the majority in this country. Maybe the majority on ATS, which is largely conservative, but not the country. Both of these things have grown massively in popularity, and continue to grow despite the attempts from conservative types to keep it in check.

reply to post by Evolutionsend


On the subject of tattoos and piercings, I think you underestimate the size of the "few at the top." I think those few are the majority of employers. Would you want your Surgeon walking in the room with dreads and guages in his ear, saying, "Gnarly gash man, I think we can totally handle it though, see you on the other side dude!"

What about getting your taxes done? Surfer dude or typical accountant looking dude? Once again, I know there are exceptions, and there may be a surfer dude that is the best accountant on the planet, and is unconventional, and comes highly recommended, that is fine, but if someone didn't know him or his reputation, don't you think they would have some second thoughts after their first meeting?

It is what it is. If you want your boss's job, dress and act like your boss. Anything less is self-destructive, and you might think you are fighting the good fight, but it is really self-defeating.

reply to post by getreadyalready


Those at the top are the Baby Boomers, and when they die, this country will change.

I would definitely want a surfer dude to do my taxes, those people with their stuffy suits and suicidally boring lives make for such an awkward meeting. It actually doesn't take a rocket scientist to do taxes btw. I've been doing mine since I started working.

reply to post by Evolutionsend


Your posts: "I'm not talking about anything as over the top as yours, I'm just talking about the average young person with a few facial piercings and some small tattoos. I respect your choice to express yourself, but I'm not talking about large and obvious things, I'm talking about smaller and fashionable things that we as a society are being denied by our employers."

And; "So it's a case of the private sector putting it's influence on it's workers? Why do we as a society allow it? Why, in a world of self expression and tolerance, are we still allowing this to go on?"

You are being hypocritical because what one considers “over the top” may not be to another. A small tattoo may be over the top for some but because it isn’t to you, it’s acceptable. Five body piercings are okay with you but 47 are not. Hmmmm……that’s like a person going 70 mph in a 60mph zone and getting passed by a person going 78mph and thinking “They are going over the speed limit….I hope they get a ticket”. We justify others acts and behaviors by what we find acceptable ourselves.

reply to post by Evolutionsend


No doubt the country is evolving, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. I have tattoos, I've tried piercings, I see no problem with experimenting with such, but it is a clue about decision making.

Would you trust the keys to your company to someone that thought it seemed like a good idea to get a Mike Tyson tattoo up the side of their face?

When I was a kid, my Pediatrician had some cool old wrinkly Navy tattoos. It actually gave him MORE credibility instead of less. But, far and wide, there is a generation of spoiled kids coming up through the ranks, and I don't believe they will be equipped to deal with replacing the baby boomers. Instead of finding ways to be innovative, or taking time to learn from their older peers and mentors, they have taken the road of entitlement. I'm afraid we have a lost generation, and the next one will be left to pick up the pieces.

Tattoos are just a fad. When I was in high school all my buddies got Looney Tunes tattooed on their ankles. Man, I am glad I didn't fall for that one! How would the Tasmanian Devil look on my ankle going down the road on my Harley?

reply to post by getreadyalready


I think the Baby Boomers are the lost generation. They accuse others of exactly what they have done, still do, and have no problems with maintaining at all. They're the original hypocrites that had their fun, freedom, and self expression, and now do not want others to have their's.

Very odd society we have, and very odd answers.

I'm at the tail end of the baby boomers. Yes, in my 50s although most people don't believe that. I only have one tat, and I had my tongue pierced until I had a sharp pain in it, so I then let it heal. My boss liked the piercing but it was a factory and he had tats also.

What is this older generation people keep talking about? Isn't 50 the new 30?

My husband has 4 large ones on his arms, and when we lived in BC, there was one place he worked at in the summer, a tire shop run by 2 young guys in their 20s, and they made him keep them covered, they said it scared the customers That's the only workplace I've seen where they were a problem.

He's a truck driver now, so everyone seems to have them.
I live in Saskatchewan now, and when I moved here, it was like going back in time 20 years. Backwoods compared to BC, and yet the thing I have noticed is in the stores, when summer is here, and everyone starts wearing shorts, many of the ladies have large leg tattoos, and some of them are at least in their 40s.

My son and his girlfriend both have lots of really nice ones, but she has mentioned people commenting. She gets very nice ones, maybe once they move out this way, she won't get so bothered by people.

Understandable about the Mike Tyson tattoo! I work in the nursing industry, yeah I know they frown on tattoos, when I was in my interview they saw my tattoo and didn't say anything about it *I have a small butterfly tattoo on my arm*. My first day they told me to cover it up, I didn't and still don't care. I could care less who has tattoos and who doesn't, might be because I have them.. I think there should be a line of modesty with tattoos involving employment, but I also think that a lot of people should realize that not all tattoos are unprofessional and one or two won't hurt anything. I'm not arguing about what should or shouldn't be i'm just throwing in my opinion.

reply to post by krazykiller79


I believe that opinion does represent the majority well, in this country. I commend you for putting your job at risk, and we need to, or are going to, be seeing more of this as the Baby boomers leave this world.

reply to post by Evolutionsend


Yeah surfer dude sounds better to me, dreary accountants are a bore

reply to post by Evolutionsend


You commend them for putting their job at risk? What about responsibility? I'm pretty sure my family's welfare comes before my own political agenda.

Granted, there is a big difference between a butterfly on a wrist and a teardrop under the eye, lol! I think a strict tattoo policy is appropriate for when you need it, and then letting a few subtle things sneak by is also appropriate. Not trying to be a hardass, but a boss has to have the right to draw the line somewhere.

reply to post by getreadyalready


I wasn't putting my job on the line over a small tattoo, I covered it, no problem. My family comes first always, and plus the money is too good to pass up