Hiring and Tattoos: An Analysis of Generational Perspectives

This study examined the relationship between age of employers and attitude towards individuals with visible tattoos during the hiring process. There has been little consideration given to the relationship between the workforce and body art (Totten, Lipscomb, & Jones, 2009). Negative attitudes towards tattoos were, in the past, much more common, while current attitudes are much more accepting. Given the shift in perceptions, it is likely that age is related to attitude towards visible tattoos. Therefore, the assumption is that there is a significant difference among age with regard to attitude towards tattoos at work. For this study, 241participants were conveniently sampled, and were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning their perspectives toward hiring employees with visible tattoos. In the sample collected, there was a larger number of female participants (158 females and 83 males), and the average age was 40.45 with a median age of 38. Results revealed there is a significant difference between age and attitude towardshiring individuals with tattoos. Specifically, older people may be more hesitant to hire these individuals. These findings suggest that the age of the decision maker may be a substantial factor in predicting hiring outcomes, and are useful in understanding attitudes concerning body art in the workforce.