Tattoos in the RVA Workplace

Recently Richmond ranked 3rd of top tattooed cities. So what’s the scoop on tatted locals finding work in our fair river city?

Face it Richmond. You’re surrounded. By art.

It flatters the walls of numerous galleries, ornaments our streets and buildings and also adorns the skin of many locals.

They don’t all work in downtown restaurants and bars either, although tattooed culinarians and mixologists might be seen more often. No, tattooed folk don’t all band together like a heathen zombie army.

Actually they’re everywhere, just not always visibly. They also teach children, save lives, prepare fancy pumpkin spice lattes, labor at state agencies, report the gritty city news, fashion your hair, hawk real estate, mark Richmond criminals and ink grants. Many have infiltrated well-known, Fortune 500 corporations.

Some even work for the CIA. Although the agency would not reveal the number of tattooed operatives punching the clock for our country, they did make it clear that tattoos won’t keep you from employment.

"Tattoos aren’t at all a factor in the CIA’s hiring process. We encourage all qualified U.S. citizens — whether or not they have tattoos — to seek employment with the agency," said Paula Weiss, media spokeswoman for the CIA.

That’s the position of our country’s gatekeepers, but what about the professional opportunities for Richmond’s tattooed legions?

KEEP THEM OUT OF SIGHT.

Many companies have penned policies that prohibit revealing body art — no exceptions.

There are still a number of job opportunities for those who want their own skin gallery. However, it might take self-policing and strategic positioning to keep the corporate bosses at bay.

"I'm a nurse, and I have to cover mine, my whole back may be done, but the other ones were placed with thought as to how to easily hide them at work," said Heather Hutson Smith, an ER nurse.

"Although I wish we didn't judge ... just because I am tattooed, doesn't mean I won't save your life... and that I'm not a professional," added Smith.

Professionalism, like beauty, is more than skin deep, but in the workplace you might needle the boss by showing too much skin art.

"I wouldn't say that I hide them, but I certainly consider work when I make the decision of where I put them on my body before getting them done," said Greg Davis, a project manager of 11 years for a local Fortune 500 financial services company.

"There isn’t a policy per say, but the rule of perception supersedes all," added Davis.

Welcome to the year-round wardrobe of long sleeves, pants, cardigans, burkas — whatever does the job. One nurse cleverly uses the stethoscope to cover a neck tattoo. The worst cover-up solution is the band-aid, as required for servers and hostess who work at the Cheesecake Factory.

"A guest who claimed to be a psychologist assumed that the band-aids were covering a suicide attempt/self mutilation and pulled the server aside and told her that if she needed any help to call her," Lauren Campbell said.

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY, DON’T IT?

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You might be surprised by what many local Starbucks baristas have concealed underneath those unassuming black shirts, pants and even socks.

Barista Ryan Gibbons is a living canvas, with tattoos that narrate a personal history, including the stories of his ascendants. For instance, on his right shoulder is Fifinella, an image used as the official mascot by the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during WWII. It represents his grandmother, who served as WASP.

She loved it.

"The sad part is that people usually see the tattoo and not the person," said Gibbons, who doesn’t like the corporate tattoo policy but said he understands it — and works around it.

"Society is so based on what you look like," added Gibbons. "With tattoos, you’re less likely to get a second chance."

Former Navy man and now reporter at WTVR, John Burkett understands balancing priorities.

Around his arm, serving as a symbolic compass, are tattooed the names of family members, a distinct characteristic that viewers likely won’t ever see.

"At a personal level the workplace itself is fine with my tattoos, but they are covered in consideration to viewers," said Burkett.

Valerie Harrington, a corporate barista (think: siren for logo) for 10 years, surprises customers when she strolls into the workplace on her days off. Covered from chest to toe, Harrington has acquired a lot of skin art in her tenure at the company. Customers never see her tattoos until they are both on the same side of the counter.

"I think maybe it makes people more likely to accept tattoos in general if they’ve gotten to know someone first before they see the tattoos," said Harrington.

SHADES OF GRAY

Some local employers might be fairly corporate or traditional but they allow visible tattoos. Ultimately, the appropriateness of body art at work depends on the company and job position.

"They've actually become a benefit in certain circumstances where I've been able to connect with non-traditional donors who felt a certain camaraderie with me once they saw I had tattoos," said Carol Anne Lajoie, a grants officer for the Virginia Historical Society whose skin is luminous from her many tattoos.

There doesn’t seem to be any specific state policy in place.

"Even if there was one, it is probably ‘overlooked’ by most employers," said an anonymous state employee who leads a department and works with many fellow tattooed employees.

"We tend to be pretty open around here and base things on performance, not tattoos," they added. "Someone will more likely be reprimanded for inappropriate clothing."

The city doesn’t seem to mind either, at least not for police officers.

"There isn’t anything in the city regulations," said Officer Spenser Dean, who has "Veritas," Latin for truth, tattooed on his trigger finger — just one of many tattoos.

So far, the surest bet for unadulterated tattoo disclosure is the creative industry, although state and city agencies hold promise as well. Several employees of the Martin Agency are heavily tattooed. Many graphic designers, especially those who don’t work directly with clients, are less likely to hide their art.

Richmond might have 14.5 tattoo shops per 100,000 people, but that doesn’t mean the trend is well received by employers. Tattoos are the modern twist on dress code issues — remember, not that long ago it was required that women wear dresses to work.

Both private and public employers have faced legal disputes and prohibiting tattoos can raise constitutional and discrimination issues.

QUICK CONSTITUTIONAL RECAP

Two weeks ago, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that tattoos are "forms of pure expression fully protected by the 1st Amendment."

The Court also said that tattooing "is a process like writing words down or drawing a picture except that it is performed on a person's skin" and "does not lose 1st Amendment protection based on the kind of surface it is applied to."

This ruling will establish a precedent if it remains unchallenged.

Holy crow, that seems like great news.

"It does have implications, at least for public employers, but private employers aren’t subject to the 1st Amendment," said Felicia Reed, a lawyer who frequently works with the Employment Law Alliance.

The 1st Amendment only protects from government intrusions against free speech. Private employers are allowed to suppress free speech, with exception to Title VII, which prohibits discrimination "on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin."

Enter the Church of Body Modification (COBM).

Its statement of faith:

"We believe our bodies belong only to ourselves and are a whole and integrated entity: mind, body and soul. We maintain we have the right to alter them for spiritual and other reasons."

Does that mean you can join the COBM and keep your private sector job?

"This is a complicated question," said the COBM. "In essence, no, simply being a member of the COBM will not keep you from being fired due to your body modifications."

They’ve taken four cases to court and haven’t won one yet.

"Employers are required by Title VII to make a good faith effort to make a reasonable accommodation for sincere religious beliefs," said James Ryan, Washington spokesman for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

And that is precisely where all four cases have been lost, at "sincere religious beliefs," and "reasonable accommodation."

Reasonable accommodation can mean the employer did offer you the opportunity to take out the piercing, or to cover the tattoo with a band-aid.

SHIFT HAPPENS?

The times are changing, even if slowly.

"No matter how acceptable they become, as with anything, the style you choose will always determine how people approach you," said Davis.

Davis pointed out that certain tattoos like "skulls, tear drops, spiderwebs and naked women" are part of a lifestyle — that one should make sure they really want before the ink sets.

Gibbons recommends drawing out the design you want and sticking it somewhere you can see it often for six months.

"If you cringe even once, think twice about it," said Gibbons.

"My advice for tattooed professionals is that they be damned good at what they do," said Joy Surles, author of "Tattoo: Behind the Needle and Tattoo: From Idea to Ink."

"I also think that as the tattoo industry is changing and as the quality of artwork is improving, tattoos are inevitably going to become more acceptable in the workplace," added Surles. "Just like grubby, dirty clothes are not professionally appropriate — crappy, faded, poorly executed tattoos aren't appropriate, either," added Surles.

In the meanwhile, people like Gibbons will continue to wear their heart on their sleeves, whether or not you see it when they are behind the counter — or desk.

Have Tattoos? Covered or Uncovered at work? Tell us!

Alix Bryan is an espresso slamming, beagle loving, multimedia reporter. She knows exactly what she wants for her next tattoo and can’t wait to get it, so that she can proceed to strategically cover it at work.