Quote:
Originally Posted by TalnSG
You will find that corporate America is not open to diversity as we would like to think. Management is largely still run by those who grew up in an era when only "drunken sailors" and criminals had tattoos. It isn't right, but because it goes to the issue of public image and many companies have spent obscene amounts of money to find ways to publicly prohibit anything in someone's appearance they don't like. Unless it is religiously protected (and there si a list of recognized religions and enforceable practices - you can't just make it up), they can do as they wish. The only requirement is that they have to enforce it on everyone.
In my instance, the university system passed a dress code requiring sleeves. No sleeveless shirts or blouses means no one should ever see my tattoo while I am on campus ---- at least not in my official capacity. My supervisor tried to force me to cover it before this dress code was passed and my refusal was regarded as "bad attitude" on my annual review. But once the dress code was published I had no recourse.
And after working in government, and in public and private industries of all sorts for more than 30 years, I can confirm that it is quite common.
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Sometimes I feel like I live in either a sheltered life or am just lucky not to experience certain things, despite the fact I've been all over the US and the world. It may very well help that I am pretty modest in just about everything I do.
I worked as an intern for NASA in Mississippi (rocket engine testing), and over there I noticed a programmer who had tattoos completely down one of his arms and two on the side of his shaven head. Obviously, no one had a problem with him working there as he was skilled and did his job. Maybe it's because it was a government job that no such restrictions are in in place. Dunno...
And your university is strict! Although, I find it understandable since it may distract others in a learning environment to have someone guy's hairy armpits or girl's cleavage out in open sight. We have the usual "no hats in a classroom" and a general "be properly dressed". Apparently, pajamas are considered "proper" for some.
They don't have regulations about specific things like sleeves at my university... yet.