Dive Brief:
- The tattoo taboo appears to be fading, according to new research from the University of Miami Business School and the University of Western Australia. The study found that employee tattoos, even visible ones, cause no disadvantage or discrimination within the workplace. In the past, tattoos were generally considered a professional no-go, particularly if they were visible, but that stigma seems to have disappeared.
- The study found that workplace perceptions of tattoos have so radically shifted that earnings and wages for employees with tattoos were indistinguishable from those without. In some markets, candidates with tattoos were even more likely to find a job. Researchers surveyed more than 2,000 businesses selected from every state in the country, with about half in metropolitan areas.
- It's estimated that about 20% of Americans and 40% of millennials have some form of body art, according to the study. The data suggests hiring managers who continue to disqualify candidates on the basis of tattoos may be missing out on otherwise qualified candidates.
Dive Insight:
Millennials continue to shape professional expectations as their preferences dominate how we do business. This time, the research shows the group's inclination toward self expression in the form of body art. In addition to acceptance for the designs they sport on their skin, millennials have asked employers to grant them more flexibility, clear purpose in their work, benefits for their health and real-time feedback on their performance. Bottom line: They're causing some shifts in how employers capitalize on the largest workforce group in today's market.
The generation's love of tattoos may prompt hiring managers to reconsider the traits that disqualify someone during the recruiting process. As more people get inked and society continues to relax about it, what was once a red flag may be nothing to bat an eye at. But the tattoo isn't the only thing to lose its lose its red-flag status in recent years; recruiters are paying less attention to questionable social media posts, evidence of job hopping and even criminal history.
For companies looking to promote a culture of inclusion, tattoos may be just another category to embrace. Candidates that are looking for an environment that suits their individuality could be more attracted to businesses that tolerate, or even appreciate, their form of personal expression.