ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Workforce Of Tomorrow?

I have nothing against anyone expressing themselves through their clothing, tattoos, etc. but, there's a time and place for everything and on the job site is not always the best place to express yourself.

I had a summer helper a few years back (not quite an apprentice).
He showed up on a new industrial job wearing his pants around his knees so we could all tell what color his boxers were.
This job was alot of underground and alot of climbing steel and ladder work.
I told him politely that he might want to re-think his clothing on a construction site and wear appropriately "fitting" pants for safety's sake if nothing else.
My words fell on deaf ears so, the fourth day, I made that poor sucker climb up and down the ladder as many times as I could just to prove my point. Every time that kid had to start climbing, he had to pull those pants up.
By the fifth day, he showed up in new jeans that fit and wore a fitting pair for the rest of the job.
If you're gonna express yourself, atleast do it in a place where it doesn't have a negative effect on the days work.

I have had an eye-brow, and tongue piercing for the last eleven years. One is a blue metalic speck above my eye, the other is in my mouth. Niether is too obvious. Most of my customer never notice, infact it has taken several of the employers I have had over the years, a better part of a year to notice. One said, "How long have you had that?" (Almost ten years at that point.) "You have that in when I interviewed you?" (I did) "You have that in everyday since?" (Yep! Almost a year now right?)

I doubt you guys noticed either....

17.5 stone = 245 pounds.

I recall reading something a few months ago to the effect of: At least one-third of the people entering the work force today have at least one tattoo or piercing (excluding ear piercings).

Body mods are so common now days that I don't think there are many people who would be offended or shocked by someone who showed up acting professional and looking well groomed (hair combed, shirt tucked in, clothes clean) who also happened to have some visible tattoos or piercings.

But like anything, there can be excess: As an employer I could probably tolerate colored hair, but not a mohawk, at least not on someone who dealt directly with customers. Any more than two or three "unusual" piercings and I would probably have to draw the line.

-John

Once one of those pieces of metal gets a good charge of current every ones thinking changes.

Listen while I tell you something about body piercing.

SAFETY-- SAFETY-- SAFETY-- SAFETY-- SAFETY—

Did you hear me?

I totally agree with the majority here. While I don't personally care about tat's or bling - We would never hire one because of the reasons noted in the majority of the above posts. We would be out of business in 2 weeks!!

I would be reluctant to hire someone with several visible piercings and tatoos. I work with several carpenters on jobs and a few have numerous tatoos and piercings. I don't necessarily see a direct link between piercings and tatoos and poor work performance, but anyone working for me needs to reflect my values and sensibilities to the public I am marketing towards. This includes appearance, attitude, language, manners and work ethic. I wouldn't want an employee showing up for work whose face looks like he/she went bobbing for apples in a tackle box any more than one with filthy, tattered clothes, dirty hair or BO. Individuals lacking the ability to draw a breath without using foul language need not apply either.

Times are always changing, there was a time when a tradesman showing up in dungarees and a T-shirt would be considered unacceptable.

IMO, tattoos are no longer looked at as a sign of a 'bad person' by the majority of the public, piercings are still 'shocking' to the older generation.

If all your work is in peoples homes, particularly older people I can see why a business owner may have to be concerned with the customers perceptions.

If you work is always on construction sites I do not see how appearance means much, performance counts.

One of the apprentices I work with looks as much like a gangster/rapper as he can, tattoos on his neck and arms baggie clothes etc. That aside I would let him babysit my kids, he is very reliable and has a great sense of right and wrong.

If we did not hire him based on his looks we would have one less valuable worker and that would be our loss.

I have very visible tattoos, I am sure glad my employer can look past that and see me for what I am.


Bob

Here's a good example. We went to service call. (retail store in a mall) The manager (22-28YO female) showed me the problem. She immediately asked if the guy that was here last week was one of our guys, I said "no, why?" She said I don't think he knew what he was doing!! He had on a concert T-shirt with cut sleeves, long hair, a lot of tat's and a lot of face jewelery!! He fixed that emergency light and it still doesn't work. I checked and there was no battery, I'm guessing that he didn't have a battery on his vehicle and was maybe going to return. But...one call from that manager to her home office and he was history. So yes, appearance does matter. I replaced the battery, all was fine. They have been a regular customer for over 2 years now.

Guys with tats, purple hair and metal in their face seem to be plumbers here. I assume they just like the smell of the glue.

Electricians (1&2 family) are starting to be latino as the older anglos retire. Lots of Cubans.
Big commercial is still fairly much clean cut guys with a mix of ethnicities.
I think that is just because the owners enforce it. I really look at the work more than the guy but metal in/on the body still makes me nervous. I haven't worn any metal since the early 70s when I saw a guy get his ring across 3vdc at 300a.
Almost burnt his finger off.