You don't have to hire anyone you don't want to!! I would rather have a guy with tattoos over an employee who smokes, but that is just me. I like your long sleeves proposal, tattoos do have a certain negative stigma even though they are very common to see.

 

I have tattoos!

 

I do too

 

thats fair enough, but do you cover them with a shirt when you are bidding a job ?

 

I wear long sleve t's, I get what your saying. personally I dont care, come to think of it I have had more problems with non tatted employees than tatted employees.

I think its cool when your dealing with business suit guy, you go to lunch to find out he is sleved on both arms as he rolls up his selves to eat.

 

I would rather hire a guy/lady covered in tattoos than one that brags he spent time in prison. We did hire 2 guys there spent time in prison. they kept talking about being there like it was no big deal, they didn't last long. I know penty of people with tattoos I would hire if we needed help. The way I look at it is as long as it is not some curse words or gang tattoo I wouldn't make them cover up. We also don't make any one wear whites unless they want to, I wear jeans almost every job I am alot more comfortable in them.

 

I get tons of job when I show my tattoo to the HO

 

The decoration of the skin with tattoos or piercings and the perceived impression on customers has been discussed previously here on PT.

There are strong feelings.

Here on PT you will find many who are any combination of: tattooed, clean of ink, concerned about impression, not concerned, want tat's covered (even their own), don't think it's an issue, etc.

The only thing a boss should be concerned about is the professionalism of a worker, and you may think tat's are part of that, many do not.

You should also be cognizant of the impression you want to portray to your customers/clients. If clean skin is a part of that portrayal, make sure that all workers understand.

It would be real nice if you could feel out each potential customer and dress accordingly.

 

I've had lots of guys with tat's work for me with no issue from h.o. some even liked them. I had one guy start for me in the winter so his tat's were covered but when it warmed up and I saw the swastika that had to be covered.He said it was something stupid he did when he was younger.

 

If the tattoos are tasteful thats alright to me, I mean tattoos are so common now right. But when you start getting the full sleeves of chains and guns on the hand and THUG LIFE across their knuckles, then I think I would have to pass.. Not that they are bad people or bad painters just I am trying to build a certain image and that image would go against what I am aiming for.

 

I would have to fire myself :whistling2:
We've worked in many nice homes and i get a lot of referrals and i think most ho want a quality paint job.

Just 2 weeks ago we bid a 4,500 sf home in Celebration a high dollar town built by Disney. We were the highest bidder but still got the job, the other 2 companies where well know companies but the ho said they liked me, felt i was detailed in my estimate & liked that i took the time to discuss their needs.

The tattoo's don't really shock the ho but when they see my crew of woman painters there surprised. They love the work, skill & professionalism and we get a lot of happy customers :thumbup:

 

What about these guys?

 

can you imagine waking up hung over and seeing THAT ???

 

All I want to know is, what qualifies this thread to be in the "Green Painting Practices" forum?

 

your right, I accidentally put this in the wrong forum. Can someone move it to general painting discussion please ?

 

yes I can and yes I did

 

The tier of clients that would be offended by tattoos and i still consider the job,will be paying me enough to make me not care about their prejudice

 

If they are good, respectful and productive, I could care less.

You probably have more of an issue than your customers.

Disclaimer: I have tattoos.

 

I think maybe 25 years ago ink may have seemed more rebellious, and offensive.

I am 28 and have more friends with ink, than without. I think tattoo's have become more about expressive art, than flaming skulls and tombstones. People express themselves differently, and I can see how a homeowner may be offended, but at the same time I have grown up with so many people with ink, that I would probably not even notice the tattoo. Obviously full sleeves, and neck/face tattoos are a bit much for my preferance, I would not see it as enough not to hire a qualified painter.

Like the OP stated though, A lot of our jobsites I would probably request they cover them (residential repaints) but any NC work or remodels, where there is no direct contact with homeowners, I would gladly let them wear a company T.

As most topics on PT go, you will find a different opinion for every member here.

 

Maybe ink is more common in the States than Oz... It seems like everyone has ink here, Yale to jail....

 

The best advice I ever heard was if you have to get a tattoo get a calendar at least it serves some purpose for a year. I do a lot of work for the elderly so I would not hire someone covered but a couple yeah.

 

I have a lot of tatoos but can't see them unless i take my shirt off

 

my personal objection of getting one is that they are kind of permanent.

I can only imagine having gotten something fairly radical when I was twenty and then just shaking my head every day now that I'm 63.

i didn't get married at 20 cause I knew I wasn't ready for a permanent commitment.

Can you divorce a tattoo ? :no:

 

Jeez, Arch, you're OLD. That may explain the crankiness. I hope I'm not that way when I get to be that age.



In three weeks.

 

Nothing wrong with tattoos!To each his own.As a business owner I have not been turned down a job due to my tattoos.I paint a lot of very high end homes.As long as the employee can paint in a professional matter and can actually show up for work I'm all for it.Just my 2cents.

 

I have employed many guys with tattoos. I think it is the content of the tat that makes me say no. I have been educated by several of these employees. Some of the image have deep significance to them as people. They often represent milestone, relationships, deaths, anniversaries, etc.

I would tend to not hire the guys with them on their face or neck. Not judging...but something about that specifically seem unprofessional. Don't really have a good reason.

Two of the friendliest men I have ever met had some crazy looking tats on their arms. They were consistently the favorite with my customers.

 

So many of you won't hire a tattoo painter ...
You say you have a company image to uphold .... great

But how many of you run a background check on employees?

We do and you would be surprised at some of the clean cut people record and how would a ho feel having thief, drug dealer or worst a sex offender

That why we run a background check instead just looking at someone and judging them

Our customers know that our workers have passed a background check and they like the fact we care enough to do this

So who would you want in your home ... a tattooed painter with a clean record or a clean cut painter with a criminal record

The wise choice ... BACKGROUND CHECK

 

Great advice. Definitely something to think about.

However, image is important. Frankly, we don't control our HO's judgements. Protecting ones "image" is important.

 

Repaint,Correct me if I'm wrong, but those who hesitate about inked employees are coming from a perception of what their customers will have, not a valuation as an employer.


And you are absolutely correct, a background check is SO much more important than physical appearance

 

I am encouraged to see, that even here in uptight New England, the attitude toward tats is becoming way more accepting, almost to the point of being a non-issue

 

I have just one tattoo. It has actually gotten me a few jobs and even out of a speeding ticket once. It's a simple tattoo but I'm proud to wear it.

Pat