Is the piercing professional? | Body modification and workplace

Piercings and tattoos have undoubtedly gone mainstream. But can they affect your career?

Many of our clients are ready to move from school to work or from work to career. In a highly competitive job market, people want to be sure that a piercing won't interfere with their job or promotion.

This article looks at workplace body modifications in an attempt to answer the question, "Is piercing professional?"

Changing Perceptions of Piercing in the Workplace

In general, there is a shift in the perception of piercing in society. Their establishment as part of mainstream culture, especially among young people, is changing the way people perceive them. Much of this shift in perception extends to the workplace.

But keep in mind that this shift is still ongoing. Body modification discrimination remains a problem. Some industries, professions and employers are more prone to this than others. 

For example, creative, lifestyle-oriented and youth-oriented companies support body modification. In fact, piercings and tattoos can even be a plus for future employees in these fields. However, positions in sales and areas such as banking still often shy away from more "extreme" piercings.

Regardless of the position or industry you work in, there is no guarantee how the employer will respond.  

Unfortunately, there are people who still condemn those who have piercings, regardless of how society perceives them. On the other hand, others have a prejudice against those who have piercings. You often don't know until you meet them. 

When it comes to individual employers, you cannot predict how they will react to your piercing. Therefore, we recommend that you be true to yourself. If piercing is as important to your self-expression as it is to us, then it's worth it. If you're really worried about how they'll be received, you can get some of the more common workplace piercings. 

Regular piercing at work

If you want to get a piercing but are afraid of being perceived at work, the safest bet is to get the most common workplace piercing. For example, ear piercing is acceptable in most workplaces.

Earlobe piercing is so common that few employers ignore it. Even some of the more exotic ear piercings, such as helix, conch, and tragus piercings, rarely cause problems. A more common problem with ear piercings in the workplace is jewelry.

Certain types of piercing jewelry, such as hoop earrings, flesh tunnels, and plugs, are more likely to fall prey to scrutiny than others. A simple ring or stud is usually acceptable. Also, use common sense. Many businesses are more likely to rate jewelry with designs that they consider aggressive (eg skulls, daggers) or drug-related (eg pills, cannabis leaves).

Once the piercing has healed, you can always swap out the jewelry you wear at work for something edgier or cooler when you're on vacation. If you get a chance to see what types of piercings and jewelry are used in the workplace before an interview, it might give you a chance to see what is the norm there.

Hiding a piercing at work

Another good workaround, if you're not sure what the workplace perceives piercings to be, is to cover it up. Any piercing that is easy to hide under clothing, such as a navel or nipple piercing, is unlikely to cause problems.

Others, such as eyebrow and lip piercings, are almost impossible to hide without completely covering the face. But with some simple tweaks, most other piercings can be hidden at work.

Loose hair, for example, is an easy way to hide earrings. A bar with a curved septum can be wrapped inside the nose, after all, how often do people look there? Tongue and frenulum piercings have a slight effect on how wide you open your mouth.

Removing a piercing at work

For a piercing that you cannot hide, there is always the option to simply remove it. Of course, there are a couple of caveats here. First, the piercing must be completely healed before removing the jewelry.  

If the piercing doesn't heal completely, there is a high risk that the hole will close up and become infected. Instead, it's usually best to have simple, easy-to-work piercing jewelry as initial jewelry.

Another consideration is the type of piercing. Some piercings will close faster than others. Ask your piercer if you risk losing your piercing if you remove your jewelry for several hours a day. 

Cartilage piercings, for example, tend to close faster. Also, the newer the piercing, the faster it closes.

Is piercing smart for professionals

In general, there is a certain shift towards acceptance of body modification. Today, in most places, there is no problem with piercings in the workplace. But there are always exceptions. Because this shift is still happening.

Young professionals may want to play it safe if they have concerns. More common piercings and/or innocuous jewelry will help keep you looking professional for all but the pickiest of employers.

One of our piercing experts can help you choose the right option for the job if you're not sure which piercing is best for you. Contact us now or visit us today at the Upper Canada Mall.