Facial piercings and New Jobs. A discussion:

[Rukia]

So here's the deal, I have facial piercings. Three to be exact (lip, nose, and eyebrow,) along with two holes in each ear, a daith in my right ear and a belly button ring. I also have four tattoos, one of which is in a very visible spot on my wrist. Now, I'm too lazy to do the research so I'm not sure the percentage of people my age who have tattoos and/or piercings, but I'm pretty sure it's a lot. I love my "body art" it's part of who I am, they my not be totally unique but I am.

I work as a barista, that is to say I spit in... err I mean make your coffee in the morning. I have a fun time and I love doing what I do. I was just recently hired at a new place opening up here in the bay area. They are going for a quirky, funky type atmosphere.

"Alright! I put the 'fun' in 'FUN'ky!"

I don't know if you have made the connection in your own lives but I have noticed that most baristas outside of the corporate 'Big green 'S'" have a certain look. Very Indie/emo/rock kinda look. Am I right? I think I fit into this category quite well thank you very much. Well at this new place all of the baristas have this look, various tattoos and piercings and such, but nothing over the top. We have all been training for over two months and were hired long before that. We all were hired with the piercings we have. I just got my lip ring this month because I was under the impression that we were going to be able to have them, after all we've been with the company for over three months and we were told that they were ok.

Apparently this last week they put into motion a new policy of no facial piercings. Needless to say there is a resounding "WTF" from us workers that have said piercings. One girl even quit because of it. I think that it's getting a little late in the game for them to be implementing such rules that are a deal breaker for most people. I was told that I was hired for my personality well guess what bub, my tats and piercings are part of my personality they are a part of what makes me, me.

So here's my issue:

If they knew that they had doubts about piercings when they hired us then they should have let us know from the get go. I know that i wouldn't have dropped the cash (that I really didn't have) to get my lip done had I known that it would be in jeopardy. I have no problem taking out my eyebrow ring (cause I can leave the damn thing out for days on end if need be) and I can effectively hide my nose ring. I'm even willing to put a retainer in my lip ring if that's what it takes. And if they are willing to accept that then I will have no problem complying. However, I don't think its fair to spring this on us so last minute. I also believe that facial piercings and tattoos have become so common that most people don't even notice them anymore. I may be biased because I am trying to prove my point, but when I can go into Quiznos and see the manger, who has more (and bigger) piercings than me, making my sandwich I don't see why I can't have mine.

So I ask you dear readers (*cricket noises*) how do you feel about the people who serve you your food/drink having body art (in moderation ie no huge holes in the lips, no chicken bones through the nose ect)? I would love to hear other opinions on the subject.

[LadyTevar]

I'm not really the one to ask, as in my region piercings and tattoos are still seen as 'dirty'. I myself have no real problem with it, as long as they are not in a place that would case problems with my food. However, if its' something that would make me look at you and go "WTF", its' inappropriate.

[Batman]

While I personally dislike facial piercings so I'd unsurprisingly be happier with servers who DON'T have any, since they don't interfere with your ability to serve my food and since you excluded really gross ones, if the waiter/waitress wants to bolt pieces of metal to his/her face who am I to argue?
I DO think a business has the right to require its personell not have any, same as they have the right to enforce a dress code/require you to wear a uniform. I do NOT think they should try to enforce something like that ex post facto. Them telling you on hiring that you would be required to remove them if you want to work for them is perfectly fine. But hiring somebody who obviously HAS body art and later telling them they have to get rid of it (which in the case of tattoos isn't exactly all that easy) is most definitely NOT.

[LadyTevar]

Moving to where this can be discussed better.

[The Cleric]

Are you asking how I personally feel about it, or if it's right for your job to institute the policy?

[The Silence and I]

Sound like the company is being an asshole to me. They have the right to say you can't have this or that, or have to dress a certain way within reason, but it is something they should be upfront about.

As for my personal take on body art: I rarely like it; IMO it usually detracts from a person's appearance. However that is not always the case, I have seen some very tasteful piercings and a couple tattoos. Regardless it is your body--even if I think someone has damaged their appearance it is their choice to make.