Can You Be Fired for a Tattoo? [Video]

With 38 percent of the Millenial Generation (18 to 29-year-olds) having at least one tattoo, according to a Pew Research study, the norm for workplace dress and fashion statements may be changing.

Lawyers.com videojournalist Ed Alpern reports on employees’ rights to express themselves with tattoos while on the job.

Right now, it’s the employer who draws the line. Courts have held employers have the right to set appearance and dress codes. These should be written down and fairly and equally applied. 

Employment lawyer Joan Clarke of the Tucker Law Group in Philadelphia, Penn., explains laws applicable to tattoos. Employers can have separate dress and appearance policies for different categories of employees, for example, those interacting with the public and those not.

What if you have a tattoo that has significant religious meaning and have made your beliefs known to your employer? Watch Ed’s video to find out if employers must treat those tattoos differently. He also tells you about a policy that the New York Yankees require regarding the ballplayers’ looks. Can you guess what it is?

Although tattoos are permanent, attitudes, policies and employment laws can change. Ed’s video provides practical suggestions in considering your tattoo and career goals.