Today, I was introduced to the newest member of our team. A 22 year old, with a rose tattooed next to her eye and a large spider tattooed across the top of her hand. Since when are visible tattoos acceptable for a professional setting?

likefunnyupliftinghelpful
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Not acceptable, but people are going to do what they want to do without realizing there will be consequences.

likefunnyhelpfulsmart

RSM 1, I think the whole point of people in tech (not just CEOs) never wearing suits is because it’s not required to actually do the job. Just like tech CEOs, accountants don’t need to look a certain way in order to do their work.

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It is important to understand that appearance is the first factor that inspires confidence. Especially with strangers that don’t know you. This is also what professional office attire is signalling. That’s why skimpy or revealing outfits are not acceptable. And we know this. We proved you can be just as effective doing your job in PJ due to WFH policies but we still dress up for client meetings etc. Anyway you slice it, visible body tattoos especially on the face will limit the success of people in client facing roles. We know this but like to gaslight ourselves into believing otherwise. I guess some people prefer experiential learning

likehelpfulfunny

It's a learned mentality tho. We were taught to think that certain ways of dressing were or were not professional. Over the last decade, this standard has substantially changed. Today, If you dress up too much, it can be seen as a negative. The older generations tend to have trouble adapting, but the newer generations are much more relaxed.

I'm the client now, not client-facing, and I don't care at all what the auditors are wearing. Neither does anyone on my team. I've been told that I dress too fancy just because I don't like wearing jeans lol

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I am a female tax manager with both a leg and an arm sleeve. I’m in public accounting and my tax partner wouldn’t tolerate clients that would give me a hard time for them. Nor would I work somewhere that would criticize me or make me feel like I should hide them. I guess times are changing? As long as they’re not inappropriate who cares as long as your performing at your job.

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Who cares what they have/look like? Can they do the job?

They have been for a while

likehelpfulfunny

OP do you find yourself passing the same judgement on your waiter/waitress, athletes, or musicians.

It literally has no impact on how they perform their job. Shouldn’t matter whether it’s white-collar or not.

likesmart

Face tats are never professional

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It’s ok. It was a thretch.

likefunny

I think it's common sense that we don't discriminate based on what people look like... right OP?

It has nothing to do with their work. Also, if you're not their boss, then mind your own business.

likefunny

Yeah OP is giving… whew, Jesus on the mainline I need revelations behind that account! 😂

We have men wearing nail polish and high heels. Do you think anyone will care about tats? Lol

likefunnysmart

Why would anyone care about men wearing nail polish and the heels?

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Would you prefer they hired the lesser qualified candidate without the tattoo to appear more “professional”?

This is a serious question.

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What does it matter? Why should we continue to perpetuate the stigma around tattoos?

likefunny

Likely when her resume and interviews beat the other candidates. I’d rather have her than someone who’s always in a suit but a kiss-ass and does half-ass work.

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Did you cry when you got home this evening before posting this?

Seriously though how does it impact your life at all?

likehelpful

For a private company I doubt it matters. In public accounting that seems like another story though, our clients would probably not be down for that

likehelpfulsmart

stepping back, we should really be giving all people the benefit of the doubt, maybe these tattoos are from a negative time in their life and they have turned it around by joining our profession. Maybe this job is what they need to get them removed. (if that’s really what they want) but in either scenario (ie they like their tattoos or are embarrassed) it’s not our jobs to pass judgement

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My thoughts exactly!! Thanks for posting.

If it's ok in accounting, is it ok in other fields? If your doctor had similar markings, how comfortable would you be? (BTW I had one client facing role where I never wore a tie, and I had similar responsibilities at another firm, never met a client, but had to wear a tie every day. There was no casual Friday, and in the summer, they closed the office early on Friday - at 5pm ! )

likehelpful

I choose my doctors from recommendations (my wife is a doctor, and also mentors med students and oversees residents. She has said that patients are uncomfortable if their doctor has face tattoos.).

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Sounds hot actually. You guys hiring?

likefunny

I was thinking the same thing. I’d let her balance my T account any day 🤤

funnylike

I have multiple tattoos on my wrists that are just not possible to be covered all the time (and I wouldn’t anyways), a nose ring, and multicolored hair, my clients all love the individuality and have actually commented that they appreciate the firm allowing me to be my real self because the work is still being done accurately, timely and efficiently. Would I personally get a face tattoo? Probably not but only because of the pain.

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Punk in drublic accounting 🤘

likefunny

You’re rattled by a face tattoo? One of you showed up with confidence and credentials. The other showed up with a LinkedIn opinion, 2003 energy, and a fragile idea of professionalism.

likesmartfunny

Fra gi le. Must be French.

funnylike

I get no judging but come on that shit is prob the most distracting thing ever the way you described it

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Hmmm boomer much?

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