Depending on the company you are seeking to have a career at and how conservative their policies are, hand and finger tattoos are not immediately written off as a reason for someone not to hire you. However, that is not to say that they are accepted everywhere.
Yes. Hand tattoos are definitely still job stoppers and will be for years to come. I say this as a successful guy with hand and neck tattoos. If I wanted to change careers my choices would be limited.
Regardless of whether you want to hear it or not, hand and neck tattoos will almost certainly have an impact on your career at some point. It could stop you getting hired, or an upper-level manager may look poorly on them and it could stop a promotion.
Michael T. French of the University of Miami conducted a survey with his colleagues of more than 2,000 people in the United States and the survey concluded, “that those with tattoos were no less likely to be employed than their uninked counterparts, and that average earnings were the same for both groups.”
Currently, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees and job applicants from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin, but does not yet prohibit discrimination based on tattoos or other forms of body art.
Tattoos are generally accepted in the workplace as long as they're not offensive, unprofessional or distracting. However, visible tattoos may not be appropriate for every profession. Even if your company allows body art, you may find that customers or coworkers discriminate against tattooed employees.
HOW PERMANENT ARE HAND TATTOOS? If you think long-term, hands and fingers may not always be a good choice. The aging process of hand tattoos, constantly exposed to intense water and sun, is adversely affected.
Do you need to cover up or temporarily hide tattoos on your hands? Our new Light Skin Tone Finger-less Gloves are perfect for helping you cover up a tattoo at work or school. They are a nylon/spandex blend and will also provide mild compression depending on the size of your hands.
We found that 63 percent of people with a tattoo smaller than the palm of their hand regret it. However, only 2 percent of people with full-sleeves or longer, regret their tattoo. Perhaps that's because people with full-sleeves or longer spent more time thinking about it.
NOTE: Hand, finger & foot tattoos are NOT recommended and NOT guaranteed. They fade quickly (within days/weeks/months) due to the nature of your skin. Hands/feet always interact with other objects. Rubbing against anything will cause it to fade.
Keep your new tattoo covered if working in a dirty or dusty environment, clothing and cream is sufficient. Avoid rubber gloves for a week or two if possible for hand / wrist tattoos. Those who work with their hands and desire hand tattoos should ideally plan 2-3 days off work.
Which jobs completely prohibit tattoos and piercings? The military, law enforcement and law firms still often enforce strict dress codes that restrict tattoos and piercings. Other employers may also have policies that prohibit them, so be sure to check with specific employers if you have any concerns.
In fact, CEO Varun Krishna, who took the top job seven months ago at Rocket, said in a statement to Fortune that he appreciates how the company's culture embraces people's individuality—especially given that Krishna has a few tattoos himself.
Navy Tattoo Policy
Navy tattoos can be anywhere on the body except the head, face, or scalp. The Navy is the only branch that allows tattoos on the hands. Although Navy tattoos can be located anywhere, those located on the torso must not be visible through Navy dress whites.
For instance, some companies may allow visible tattoos as long as there is no profane language or graphic imagery. Some organizations may allow tattoos on certain parts of the body, like arms and legs, but not on other parts, like the neck or hands. Other companies might strictly forbid visible tattoos altogether.
Whatever you do, don't pick or scratch
And it's a good idea to keep fresh hand tattoos covered (this also provides the added benefit of shielding that new tattoo from daily wear and tear). “The skin should be kept covered and moist while healing,” Dr. Palm says.
Yes, California employers can ask employees to cover tattoos and piercings. Employers can even refuse to hire potential employees with tattoos or piercings.
Age: Adults under 50 are especially likely to have a tattoo. Some 41% of those under 30 have at least one, as do 46% of those ages 30 to 49. This compares with a quarter of adults ages 50 to 64 and 13% of those 65 and older.
The location of the tattoo can affect fading
There are certain areas of your body where a tattoo will fade faster. Areas of the body tattoos fade most include the hands, feet, elbows, armpit and inside of the arms. The reason is simple: friction.
Finger or hand tattoos can start as low as $50 for basic designs and go up to $300 for more intricate ones. Most people don't spend a lot on finger tattoos since they tend to fade quickly. Some shops do deals where tiny tattoos are around $25.
Are tattoos and piercings acceptable in the workplace? Depends on the job! Most industries are accepting tattoos in the workplace but industries such as the military and airlines have limitations on visible tattoos (hands, neck, & face).
Michael T. French of the University of Miami and colleagues surveyed more than 2,000 people in the United States and found that those with tattoos were no less likely to be employed than their uninked counterparts, and that average earnings were the same for both groups.
However, 73% of people say they would hire staff that had visible tattoos. 6% of tattooed people say they wouldn't hire someone with visible ink. Only 4% of tattooed or pierced people say they've actually faced discrimination in their current job.