Can your employer ban tattoos and piercings?

If you have tattoos or piercings and are wondering whether they could influence your job application or your work, it’s a valid question. Can an employer refuse to hire you or fire you because of your piercings or tattoos?

Although there has been a law against discrimination since 2007, it does not specifically cover tattoos and piercings. This means that a company can, in some cases, ask its employees to conceal their piercings and/or tattoos if it is justified by legitimate reasons.

What does the law say?

Since 2007, the law against discrimination prohibits discrimination based on 19 criteria, such as sex, race, age, political opinions, language, or physical characteristics. However, tattoos and piercings are not considered physical characteristics protected by this legislation.

This means that, even though an employer cannot discriminate against you solely based on your tattoos or piercings, they can still ask you to cover them if deemed necessary.

When is such a request justified?

The employer must be able to justify their request reasonably. For example, they could ask you to remove your piercings for safety or hygiene reasons, especially if you work in an environment where it poses a risk. They could also ask you to hide your tattoos to maintain the company’s professional image.

However, this request must be proportional to the goal being sought. The employer should therefore establish clear rules in the work regulations. For example, it would not be reasonable to ban piercings for an administrative employee for safety reasons, and asking an employee who has no customer contact to hide their tattoos to preserve the company’s image would be hard to justify.

What to do when applying?

Before applying, it is important to learn about the company’s culture. Some companies may be more flexible than others regarding tattoos and piercings. If you are going through a temp agency, feel free to ask them in advance, as they can provide information about the client’s expectations.

And if you already work there and want to get a tattoo or piercing?

If you are considering getting a tattoo or piercing, first check your company’s work regulations. Also, ask your manager whether it could be a problem depending on your role or the company’s image.