NifemiOlu: 'I was told I'm a bad example to children.'
I'm 35 and quite heavily tattooed. I had a job as a mid-day assistant at a school. I was taken on having tattoos and facial piercings which during the winter months was fine as I was covered up, but when the summer arrived my arms were on show. I was promptly issued with a "standards of dress" guide. It said that visible tattoos and facial piercings were not setting a good example and should be covered up. This was the first bit of communication I had received during my job. After a week or so I went to see the headmaster and resigned with immediate effect. He had called me in to have meetings with personnel over the issues I had raised, but I didn't feel I wanted to work in a place that discriminates against tattoos and piercings and I don't believe I should have to fight to justify that I'm a hard worker and a decent person. I feel sad that children grow up being taught these shallow-minded views.
Karla Valentine, Suffolk, UK

'I had my working hours cut'
My old boss was against body modifications because of her religious beliefs. I was constantly harassed about my piercings and tattoos. I had hours cut after getting my tattoos, even though they aren't visible. I have both feet done as well, but always wear socks and shoes. I work in childcare and was told that even out in public I had to keep appearances up, so to keep covered, because I might see the children I looked after outside hours. In my uniform you can't see my tattoos. As I keep it professional but I've been told that I'm unapproachable and scary with tattoos and piercings and that could lose potential clients to the business.
Sam, Brisbane, Australia

'I was told to cover up'
I have both full sleeves and my previous employer stated you had to cover all tattoos when in work hours, which I found wrong because other members of staff were allowed to wear earrings which is another form of body modification. One rule for one et al. I now work for a company that does not discriminate against tattoos. I am currently a contract manager for a hospital. In my previous job I was an operations manager where their policies stated that all tattoos had to be covered up at all times. This included any contractor working on site.
Jef, Teddington, UK

'My job interview was terminated'
I'm a heavily tattooed 20-year-old girl. About a year and a half ago, in 2012, I applied for a job as a waitress. It was a half telephone interview, half seeing when you're free. It was going fine. The employer started talking about the uniform. When he said it was short-sleeved, as soon as I said I had my arms tattooed, he just hung up. I was working as a shop assistant in a mobile phone shop when a customer started screaming in my face. They had some problems with their top-up I was trying to help them with but they had bought it from another shop and I couldn't give them a refund. They completely switched."You've only got this job because you've got tattoos," they shouted. They were saying I was disgusting and I'd let down the company. And then walked out of the shop, so I went round the back and cried. I have had awards for my customer service and in that shop my manager had sleeves, my other manager had a neck tattoo. I'm not rude or horrible. I don't do drugs or anything. I work hard, pay bills, do charity work for animals and yet they call me disgusting names for no reasons. The art I have isn't even offensive. Just cause I'm heavily tattooed doesn't mean I'm nasty, scary or stupid.
Amii Parr, Reading, UK

'I missed out on a promotion'
On my 18th birthday I got a half-sleeve and my boss immediately denied me the promotion he promised me even though some of my co-workers had much more visible tattoos and piercings. I quit a month later. He didn't say directly that it was because of my tattoo, but the comments he made toward me made it clear he didn't like it. He asked me if I was crazy for getting it and why my parents would let me do this to myself. He also said it's very dark (I don't really know if he meant dark as in black or dark as in creepy) and that I'm better for in the kitchen rather then being a waitress.
Emily, Wisconsin, USA

If you're not planning to be self-employed, I think you may need to think twice before getting a tattoo.

tomiobj: You have your rights. Call ur lawyer and sue them. I guarantee you'll make nt less than 2000 pounds as long as ur a good employee

tomiobj: You have your rights. Call ur lawyer and sue them. I guarantee you'll make nt less than 2000 pounds as long as ur a good employee

tomiobj: You have your rights. Call ur lawyer and sue them. I guarantee you'll make nt less than 2000 pounds as long as ur a good employee

MrPeaceman: Having tattoos doesn't depict a sense of responsibility. Ofcourse; he will influence the children negatively, @the first example. It is synonymous with indecent dressing, and most people that are guilty of it are indecent. They can't sue the companies; the companies have the right to give terms and conditions of work, as well as dressing/appearance codes etc, as they so desire. When I see young people of nowadays drawing tattoos and piercing their body, immitating stars that have already made name for themselves. I don't laugh, I feel sorry for them. They lack foresight. If only they could see the impending consequences.

adonbilivit: tattoo equals taboo in naija cos most of us are intolerant and hypocritical. this is AFRICA. live and learn

generalissimo: You have spoken well. The general society believe that people with tattoos have issues ranging from rebellion to sense of irresponsibility. And they are right to some extent cos we see majority of people with body piercing and tattos and the personalities they portray. It's a sheer lack of foresight or just being naive or rebellious that will make anyone wanna get a tattoo or pierce the body even after considering the societal stigma attached to it

ednut1: if u plan to work in the corporate word get tattoo that can be hidden. i have a Japanese tatto on my hand. i cover it up and dont wear short sleeve to work. shikena

NifemiOlu:
Can't stop laughing. So some peeps think it actually happened to me. Well, the post is a collection of 5 people's experiences with where they live. People should learn to read between the lines. Every paragraph belongs to different people in different places.

generalissimo: What is the beauty of tattos if u cannot show it off? Or is ur tatto 'for ur eyes only' or 'it's my body and I can do what I like with it'? I bet u didnt know the implications before getting it. U just did copy copy n got urself one....now dat u know the implications, u cover it up.....I will tell

generalissimo: Omo iya Olu, I trust u, u dare not get tatto or mama Olu throws u outa the house

NifemiOlu:

Hahaha...
Tattoo isn't my thing. My grandmas had when they were alive but if we look at the 'function' of tattoo those days, we would see it's totally different now.

IdomaLikita: What exactly is irresponsible about body markings?
My Two Grandmothers tattooed their Skins elaborately with African traditional Patterns and it doesn't make them less responsible!
An Un-tattooed will Rot after Death, so would a tattooed one. So what's the justification for the discrimination?
Apart from the Health Risk that goes with using Unsterilized instruments in tattooing, I see absolutely nothing wrong in it!