ADRIANNE PRESNELL
Employees with Visible Tattoos: The Impact of Coverup Policies on Their Feelings of Inclusion
Abstract A culture of inclusion may be difficult to achieve for organizations with dress code policies requiring employees to hide or cover-up tattoos. Tattoos are often personally meaningful; an organization that projects a message that tattoos are unsightly, inappropriate, or unprofessional can psychologically affect employees’ feelings toward their work. This discussion is particularly relevant now that nearly half of the current United States workforce has one or more tattoos. An organization would be wise to acknowledge the impact and unintended consequences these cover-up policies may have on both the employee and their human resource management goals. This paper is an exploration of a research topic, including a literature review, presentation of a conceptual model, insight from the researcher’s interviews, and a proposal for additional areas of research. Specifically, a larger and more formal case study would help expand the depth and application of knowledge in the area of visible tattoos in the workplace.
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