ACAS research reveals negative attitudes towards tattoos

New research published by ACAS indicates that employers risk losing talented staff due to concerns about employing people with visible tattoos.

The independent study, which looked at various aspects of employee appearance, found that young people are especially affected since almost one in three young people has a tattoo. The research also revealed that:

• Negative attitudes towards tattoos and piercing can influence the outcome of recruitment processes in some workplaces
• Some public sector workers felt that people would question the professionalism of a person with a visible tattoo
• Some private sector employers raised concerns about the effect of visible tattoos on the perceptions of potential clients or customers

An employer's dress code must not discriminate in respect of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 for age, disability, gender reassignment, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

The research - and the latest ACAS guidance on dress codes - is available at www.acas.org.uk/dresscode