Piercings in the workplace. Acceptable?

As some of you (more likely none of you) may know, I've started a petition that I'm planning to send to Westfair Foods (my place of employment) in regards to piercings. I strongly believe that it shouldn't make a difference whether or not an employee has piercings. People are being forced to wear bandages over ear, nose and lip piercings. Which looks fucking ridiculous. Personally, I think it's disgusting. By doing so, they're pretty much telling their own employees that they aren't accepted, so please, "try to hide who you are so the public won't look down on our corporation for hiring you". Maybe next, they'll make blacks wear white powdered goth makeup.Many thanks to those of you who have already helped me out.

If you could spare two minutes to help me out by signing, it would mean alot, thanks.

And thank you to those of you who already have, and thank you to Sarah for the idea.

The link: http://www.petitiononline.com/riandoa/petition.html

That's very silly. I would think that the bandages call more attention than the piercings actually do. I think in this day and age most people are used to piercings and they are no longer taboo.

Heather

On the one hand, I've been at the receiving end of these company grooming policies, and I did not agree with the policy.

On the other hand, employment with any particular company is voluntary. If you don't like their grooming policy, you're not required to work there. The company is in business to make a profit, as shocking as that may sound, and to do that, they need to present a public image that they believe will maximize their profit-making. Typically, that means having a clean, well-lit store, wide aisles, well-stocked shelves, friendly employees, and yes, grooming standards that are designed to make their customer demographic feel comfortable shopping there.

Now, if you were working at Hot Topic, you'd probably be required to have piercings, and any Mr. Bean-type characters would be decidedly unsuitable for employment with the firm.

Get it?

Well i signed it cos i HATE all fooking COMPANIES,Mine says i have to grow my hair LONG.BASTARDS:D

Rocket Mick wrote: Well i signed it cos i HATE all fooking COMPANIES,Mine says i have to grow my hair LONG.BASTARDS:D

Hhm. We don't 'toilerate' long hair,piercings or tatoos; I don't like Companies House though - does that mean we have anything in common? However on a mature side, some 'kids' go to school with all of the above? Eh? Have you ever witnessed anything more revolting that watching someone change their 'belly' bar? Err ... it's gross. Pass the bucket on me left hand side..........

Tattoos have a certain charm.........

i wear my nose ring on occasion--but just a small one. as there are indian-american teachers who wear them at school, i think it's become more acceptable. i do cover my tattoos, however. i don't think it's appropriate to show them being a teacher, although my students see the one around my ankle whenever i wear a skirt and it's never caused a problem.

it depends on where you work--as comrade s. noted.

As a customer I'd be far more offended to think I was shopping at a store run by Nazi's than by a few piercings. A completely feakily pierced person I could understand them having a quiet word with....but EARINGS WTF....it's not dave Gahan's fucking gooch piercing is it, and eve if it was, I doubt he'd have his nads out at the deli counter.

I LIVE for the day I sneak a few conditions of my own past wankers like that. Like charging our bank a tenner for writing to them.

I think it depends. I wouldn't mind seeing piercings in general, but if I were to go to a high class restaurant or hotel or whatever, nose piercings or lip piercings wouldn't match the classy and elegant environment. Although, I wouldn't care about piercings you usually wouldn't see, such as navel piercings etc...

well I do have both ears pierced. Even working at a record store-that can be conservative!!

the idea of taking them out for a job would pain me as they are a part of my self-expression (just small diamond studs in the lobes)

BUT I do have to eat and pay bills....I hope I never have to make that choice

When I auditioned for Depeche Mode they made me drop my pants for an anal piercing. It was painful.

On a related note, I was employed (rather breifly) at a place that always harrassed me to shave. It was so great handing in my two-week notice that I 'forgot' to shave for the rest of my time there. Too bad they couldn't do anything about it.

ain't got any piercings nor tats yet. never say never. however more or less anything goes unless you are in an area with direct public contact.

I've been thinking of getting an ear piercing. An arm tattoo would be nice too, but I'm not sure if i'll like any of the things I like now in twenty years when the ink is faded.

One of my bosses at my old job repeatedly cited me for not smiling on the sales floor. Then she quit, the indifferent managers took over, and all was good.

Grell wrote: On a related note, I was employed (rather breifly) at a place that always harrassed me to shave. It was so great handing in my two-week notice that I 'forgot' to shave for the rest of my time there. Too bad they couldn't do anything about it.

I have a golden earring in my 2 ears.

Had them for 20 years

Some 15 years ago, I often got the question from clients "if I was gay"

Fuck them all, old fachshion people.

Keep you piercings folk. And if the boss says no, tell him to fuck off!

Razed In A New Division Of Agony wrote: As some of you (more likely none of you) may know, I've started a petition that I'm planning to send to Westfair Foods (my place of employment) in regards to piercings. I strongly believe that it shouldn't make a difference whether or not an employee has piercings. People are being forced to wear bandages over ear, nose and lip piercings. Which looks fucking ridiculous. Personally, I think it's disgusting. By doing so, they're pretty much telling their own employees that they aren't accepted, so please, "try to hide who you are so the public won't look down on our corporation for hiring you". Maybe next, they'll make blacks wear white powdered goth makeup.Many thanks to those of you who have already helped me out.

If you could spare two minutes to help me out by signing, it would mean alot, thanks.

And thank you to those of you who already have, and thank you to Sarah for the idea.

The link: http://www.petitiononline.com/riandoa/petition.html

Surely as an employee, if they say you cant wear your piercings than that should be the end of the matter? If its that much of a big deal, why not simply find another place of employment which will allow you to wear your piercings?

My place of work,the Post Office,has minimum standards,which include no swinging Bet Lynch earrings,just studs,and no face piercing.It's the old corporate image thing.They want us to be accessible to pensioners,not frighten the fcuking life out of them!

Nicos just said everything I was gonna say. I may get my ear pierced, probably the gay side just to fuck with people. But I find most piercing as product of attention whores or something boring people do to frighten others. My faves are the nose rings that that look like two buggers hanging below the nostrils. Tongue piercing is dumb unless it is specifically done to improve cock sucking skills (why a person needs to piercing to improve that amkes me think they are not a good cock sucker to begin with). Naval and belly button piercings are a turn off. And I aint touch a clit with a piece of metal in it.

The ex-wife used to have a tongue bolt thingy.I'm sure it was knocking her teeth outward,probably in her sleep.

Oh I didn't mention, I actually don't have any piercings. I just think it's unfair to those who do.

Spotnick wrote: I think ear piercing is well accepted in these days, although it's always a shock when you see a man with both ears pierced because it's rare, not because there is a problem with it.

I had my left ear pierced for a little while, but I wouldn't have it now, but that's a personal choice.

But god damn it, if I am FORCED to wear a damn TIE to work, REMOVE your damned piercings :p

To be honest, I find them pretty horrible, but that's a personal taste... those in eyebrows and lips and even nose.. just not my type! Just like I don't really like tatoos.. but that is ME.

I just don't get why you would mutilate your face on purpose.. I still feel the hole on my ear even if it's been more than 7 years since I removed it.

Don't get me started with those on the tongue ;)

BTW, it's serious though, it's not worst than having a dress code.. for the first time of my life I have to wear a tie to work and avoid jeans, and I'm still alive ;) Although I still have to understand why the tie was invented in the first place.. stupid piece of clothe.

I have to wear a tie to. It's stupid. It's a fuckin GROCERY STORE. Like really...

I remember in one of my classes in college, the feminists in the class were discussing oppressive attire, saying that the requirement to wear Chadors in Muslim countries is not oppressive, but that the requirement to wear heels in business attire is oppressive. Fool that i am, I suggested they could wear flats instead of heels, and one feminist snapped that "I don't want to wear flats. I shouldn't have to wear anything that I don't want to wear."

Boo-fookin'-hoo. Try wearing a required, tightly knotted strip of cloth around your trachea, choking off your air supply for 8 hours every day, sweetheart, and then complain to me about the oppression of flats.

I have never understood the necktie. It has no constructive purpose. If it were removed, the surrounding garments would function just as well. Possibly better. What gives?

Razed In A New Division Of Agony wrote: I have never understood the necktie. It has no constructive purpose. If it were removed, the surrounding garments would function just as well. Possibly better. What gives?

We could almost blame Maya... :evil4:

Is the non-piercing ruling in relation to employees' appearance or is it a hygiene regulation? In my previous job (convenience food manufacturer) the only form of jewellery workers could wear was wedding rings & they had to be plain, any with stones in were not allowed. This was a health & safety regulation, as was the ruling that the blokes must be clean-shaven or wear what looked like a surgical mask over their beard. My current job also prohibits piercings/jewellery on health & safety grounds so I just don't bother with earrings any more. Used to have 4. I can understand it, if I bought a food item I wouldn't like to find a part of a body piercing in my purchase. What foreign objects can do in food is damn scary too.

If it's an appearance thing, the employers should go fuck themselves!

i never wear a tie to work. ties are only for interviews weddings and funerals as far as i'm concerned.

Uncle Liam wrote:

Razed In A New Division Of Agony wrote: As some of you (more likely none of you) may know, I've started a petition that I'm planning to send to Westfair Foods (my place of employment) in regards to piercings. I strongly believe that it shouldn't make a difference whether or not an employee has piercings. People are being forced to wear bandages over ear, nose and lip piercings. Which looks fucking ridiculous. Personally, I think it's disgusting. By doing so, they're pretty much telling their own employees that they aren't accepted, so please, "try to hide who you are so the public won't look down on our corporation for hiring you". Maybe next, they'll make blacks wear white powdered goth makeup.Many thanks to those of you who have already helped me out.

If you could spare two minutes to help me out by signing, it would mean alot, thanks.

And thank you to those of you who already have, and thank you to Sarah for the idea.

The link: http://www.petitiononline.com/riandoa/petition.html

Surely as an employee, if they say you cant wear your piercings than that should be the end of the matter? If its that much of a big deal, why not simply find another place of employment which will allow you to wear your piercings?

Seems a trifle defeatist attitude to me. Sometimes employers have policies that don't make sense because they haven't thought it through properly, or haven't realised the downside of bad employee morale. I don't see why even someone with economic libertarian type beliefs would begrudge employees the right to lobby and moan to their employers about policies that annoy them. Obviously it would be rather hard to justify state intervention on something like this, but employees have a right to tell the bosses how they feel surely?

Over here some civil servants have lodged a sex discrimination claim on the basis that male employees have to wear ties while the women can dress as they choose. Its always annoyed me when I've been in jobs that demanded tie-wearing - it makes no sense, it's uncomfortable, looks stupid rather than 'smart' and is apparently a health hazard (can reduce blood flow to the brain, allegedly).

Razed In A New Division Of Agony wrote: I have never understood the necktie. It has no constructive purpose. If it were removed, the surrounding garments would function just as well. Possibly better. What gives?

Sorta like the joke "we park in drivewways and drive on parkways"