Recruiter says companies should chill over tattoos

Hull tattoo artist Holly Dosdale says attitudes towards tattoos have changed

Employers should be more relaxed about people who have visible tattoos at work, the head of a recruitment agency said.

Ben Davis-Rice, director of Reach Recruitment in Hull, said: "If there's an absolute A-star person you want to employ but the company handbook says 'no we can't employ them because they've got a tattoo', that's an absolute waste of talent."

Research published in 2022 showed 63% of people thought face or neck tattoos looked "unprofessional".

Hull tattooist Holly Dosdale said there had been an increase in the number of people getting tattoos as they had become "more acceptable".

Holly Dosdale says her customers love to express themselves through tattoos

Ms Dosdale, who owns Namaste Tattoo Studio in Hull, said attitudes towards tattoos had changed since she began working in the industry in 2011.

"It used to be more of a rebellion and you had to be a bit edgy to get them," she said.

"But now people are seeing it as more of an artwork. It's for everyone. People love to express themselves so it's an extension of that."

The 2022 research, published by YouGov, showed 42% of people thought it was unacceptable for teachers to have tattoos visible while at work.

More than 30% also thought doctors, nurses or police officers should not have tattoos on display when doing their jobs.

Ben Davis-Rice says some tattoos can still be a workplace issue

Mr Davis-Rice said: "I think it's probably linked to a cultural association of tattoos equals some sort of badness in a way.

"Perhaps there's that association that it's not above board and on people's faces, people perhaps may feel intimidated."

However, Ms Dosdale said: "It's really old fashioned to judge people on their appearance.

"Certain people have got an idea of tattooed people and I think it's nice that your doctors, your policemen, have got tattoos."

Hull City Council said it had seen an increase in tattoo artists in the city over the last 10 years - with 96 currently registered.

Organisations including Virgin Atlantic, Disney and the Metropolitan Police have relaxed their restrictions on employees with visible tattoos in recent years.

'More personable'

Mr Davis-Rice called on more companies to do the same, but acknowleged some tattoos can still be a workplace issue.

"More visible tattoos, on the face for example, may well cause you not to secure a job or may cause problems with employment," he said.

Ms Dosdale said: "I think it makes you more personable if you've got a tattoo. Having a tattoo does not affect any ability to do your job."

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices