One in five Canadians now admit to having body art; but 14% of employers don't seem to like it
With the world of work changing, and standards on what does and does not constitute professionalism evolving, it’s high-time HR departments looked at how we perceive candidates’ tattoos.
One in five Canadians now admit to having body art; however, a study from Workopolis found that 14% of employers may actually be less inclined to hire a candidate with tattoos on show.
23% of managers claimed that tattoos on a jobseeker wouldn’t affect their ultimate hiring decision, whilst others stipulated that it would depend on the location and amount of body art.
That being said, do you think employers should be able to refuse to hire a jobseeker based on their inking’s? Or is that just another case of discrimination and bias in hiring? How far should a candidate’s tattoos matter?
We spoke to Ryan Lazar, managing director at CareerBuilder Canada, who gave us his thoughts on the evocative topic.
“Just look at the corporate attire and how that’s changed over the past years,” he explained, “– from suits and ties on men, to suits on women – to what it is today, namely jeans, sneakers and shirts.
“The corporate attire has dropped significantly, and with that, tattoos are more acceptable in today’s workplaces.”
The shift in what we perceive as workplace attire has evolved dramatically – and with it has employer sense of acceptability and normality. But, as we move forward into more inclusive and diverse workplaces, can tattoos and body art can stand their ground amongst the ripped jeans and piercings?
“When I’m hiring candidates, I’m looking for the best person for the job,” added Lazar, “- regardless of ethnicity, gender, or anything else, it should come down to who is best placed for the role on offer.
“I think it goes to the preference of the hiring manager, and potentially to the role on offer. From my personal perspective, it’s not something that is a factor. I’m just looking for the best candidate, who will help drive business forward – that’s my number one concern.”
Do you think jobseekers’ tattoos should matter in recruitment? Tell us in the comments.
One in five Canadians now admit to having body art; however, a study from Workopolis found that 14% of employers may actually be less inclined to hire a candidate with tattoos on show.
23% of managers claimed that tattoos on a jobseeker wouldn’t affect their ultimate hiring decision, whilst others stipulated that it would depend on the location and amount of body art.
That being said, do you think employers should be able to refuse to hire a jobseeker based on their inking’s? Or is that just another case of discrimination and bias in hiring? How far should a candidate’s tattoos matter?
We spoke to Ryan Lazar, managing director at CareerBuilder Canada, who gave us his thoughts on the evocative topic.
“Just look at the corporate attire and how that’s changed over the past years,” he explained, “– from suits and ties on men, to suits on women – to what it is today, namely jeans, sneakers and shirts.
“The corporate attire has dropped significantly, and with that, tattoos are more acceptable in today’s workplaces.”
The shift in what we perceive as workplace attire has evolved dramatically – and with it has employer sense of acceptability and normality. But, as we move forward into more inclusive and diverse workplaces, can tattoos and body art can stand their ground amongst the ripped jeans and piercings?
“When I’m hiring candidates, I’m looking for the best person for the job,” added Lazar, “- regardless of ethnicity, gender, or anything else, it should come down to who is best placed for the role on offer.
“I think it goes to the preference of the hiring manager, and potentially to the role on offer. From my personal perspective, it’s not something that is a factor. I’m just looking for the best candidate, who will help drive business forward – that’s my number one concern.”
Do you think jobseekers’ tattoos should matter in recruitment? Tell us in the comments.
