Is having a tattoo a workplace liability?

This question was at the center of a study led by Matthew Tucker of the Liverpool School of Business in the United Kingdom. For many, tattoos are intensely personal. For some they memorialize someone they loved and lost, for others they’re a symbolic representation of triumph over adversity. Despite these meaningful origins, tattooed individuals have experienced prejudice and stigma for wearing them — negative attitudes that have been particularly consequential at work. But is that still the case?

To pursue this inquiry, Tucker and his team conducted a survey of 435 respondents who were “knowledge workers” in office settings. Over 90 percent of the respondents were from the United Kingdom, and nearly 86 percent had a tattoo. Most respondents fell between the ages of 25 and 39.

The survey was performed in 2022, two years after work from home (WFH) was first introduced — with almost 40 percent of respondents having gotten a new tattoo since the start of the pandemic. The investigators asked participants detailed questions about their body art, including whether they chose to cover them at work, and other open-ended questions. Tucker and his collaborators then analyzed the participants’ surveys for themes.

What did the researchers find? The analysis yielded six themes:

1. Perceived Judgment. People with tattoos harbored concerns about how others would perceive their tattoos, even in the absence of formal policies or restrictions. They remained keenly aware that tattoos can conjure negative associations and may be off-putting. One participant shared: “Based on the looks that I get, tattoos have not been fully accepted.”

Tattooed individuals were also adamant that having one had nothing to do with job performance. As one respondent expressed: There is no correlation between someone's tattoos and their ability to do their jobs. Having them is not a negative/does not diminish someone's capabilities.

2. Cautious Choice-Making. Tattooed employees had to make conscious choices about whether to display their body art, factoring in when and where. This was a highly context-dependent decision: Who are they meeting and what is the activity? One respondent articulated this predicament further:

With clients I chose to cover up until I know them better and understand how they will respond to them; I very rarely have face to face meeting but I do attend court. This has been remote recently but when in person I would probably wear black tights to disguise the tattoo. I feel that I should out of respect for the judge and my client.

With clients I chose to cover up until I know them better and understand how they will respond to them; I very rarely have face to face meeting but I do attend court. This has been remote recently but when in person I would probably wear black tights to disguise the tattoo. I feel that I should out of respect for the judge and my client.

3. Mixed Signals and Unwritten Rules. Tattooed persons in this study found themselves negotiating unwritten policies and expectations. There were concerns about whether having a tattoo would be considered unprofessional, with mixed results.

One participant shared: "There is a strong preference from senior management to not display them, but nothing is formally documented." Another stated: "There is a company policy, but my manager does not enforce it; my manager is open in her belief that she does not think appearance affects work performance."

4. Increased Acceptance. Many respondents said that having a tattoo isn’t an issue for them at work. Some reported that they faced no formal policies restricting tattoos, and that their body art even sparked conversation and connection. Some participants felt that tattoos are indeed gaining acceptance. As one said, "I have mine on show, multiple people who work for us have them, and no one considers it to be an issue."

5. Autonomy and Authenticity. Some participants felt having an uncovered tattoo was a matter of authenticity and autonomy to fully share who they are. It was about bringing their “whole self” to work.” As one person put things: "My employer enables me to be my authentic self at work." Some respondents said they wouldn’t work for an employer that would ask them to “hide” an important part of themselves.

6. Remote Work Culture. WFH had a mixed impact on how tattooed participants navigated their tattoos at the workplace. Remote work ushered in more casual dress, and thus more relaxed appearances at work — including greater ease about visible tattoos. While some continue to keep their tattoos covered — even over Zoom — others say WFH has led to positive changes:

I feel people are freer to express themselves and my workplace is acknowledging greater diversity; I'm certainly more comfortable to bring my whole self, now.

I feel people are freer to express themselves and my workplace is acknowledging greater diversity; I'm certainly more comfortable to bring my whole self, now.

Tucker, et al. Tattooed employees in the modern workplace: navigating judgement and acceptance, and the impact of changing work patterns. (2025). Personnel Review. DOI: 10,1108/PR-10-2024-0870.

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