One of the more common problems people experience with body art is that it negatively affects their careers. Today, more companies allow their employees to openly displaying tattoos and piercings than they did in the past. Despite this fact, an employee’s chance of moving ahead are often diminished because of his or her body art.

According to Cindy Graf, director of the Laser Centers of Wisconsin, a facility that removes tattoos, tattoos have found a certain level of acceptance in industries such as fashion, beauty, and retail. However, in her experience, tattoos in a professional business setting are less acceptable. Those involved in the job placement industry agree with Graf’s assessment. “People who want to be promoted and be successful abandon the tattoos and piercings pretty quickly,” said Carol Schneider, CEO of SEEK, Incorporated. Such adornments “may hold people back,” she added, noting that “the people in positions of power are pretty conservative. If a person wants to join the ranks of power, they need to dress appropriately.”

A 2001 survey by vault, an online management site, backs this viewpoint. Of the five hundred participants questioned in the survey, 18 percent of tattooed managers said that their tattoos or piercings have hindered their career prospects. In addition, 42 percent of managers said they would lower their opinion of someone based on his or her tattoos or body piercings, and 10 percent said they had to discipline workers because of tattoos or piercings. Managers also stated that tattoos or piercings may negatively affect a person’s ability to get a job: 58 percent said they would be less likely to offer a job to a tattooed or pierced applicant.