Tattoos carry a heavy stigma in our culture. They are seen as ugly, unprofessional, and dirty.

As a person with multiple tattoos, I can tell you that every tattoo I’ve received is very clean. Each piece was inked with a brand new, never opened needle, was done by an artist that I trusted wearing gloves, and wiped with rubbing alcohol to cleanse at the end. There is nothing dirty about my Deathly Hallows symbol on my shoulder or the feminism sign on my neck.

I’m very lucky to work in a place that lets me have tattoos without covering them up. My coworkers and myself have multiple tattoos, some that show and some that are hidden. We are incredibly lucky to work for an organization that doesn’t care.

At my mom’s office, a new rule was just enforced that says that all visible tattoos must be covered up when in office. My mom has three tattoos, two of which are hidden. She has a small tattoo on her wrist (I have a matching one). She now has to wear a bandage over her ink, or cover it with makeup every day.

A study done by Annie Singer shows that most people think grooming and business attire are more important than tattoos or piercings. Meaning, young professionals think they are judged more on if their hair is washed rather than a butterfly tattoo on their wrist.

So why the stigma?

Part of the study showed that most young professionals felt judged by employees over the age of 50, but felt that tattoos made them more accessible to youths.

There may be progress with feelings on tattoos in the workplace but we certainly aren’t there yet. My mom shouldn’t have to cover up a small semi-colon on her wrist anymore than a person should have to cover up an arm sleeve.

Tattoos don’t have any effect on my work or my abilities, so why are they seen that way?

Tattoos are much more widely accepted these days and you see more and more people exposing their art in the workplace. I think the biggest issue is with those people over the age of 50. Older people tend to have a more conservative view on tattoos, piercings, clothes, and general appearances, especially on young people. What we need to do, rather than cover up our artwork, is open up the minds of the people around us. Show the world that tattoos are not strictly for criminals, but that they can be beautiful pieces of artwork for a canvas. The only way to end a stigma is through education.

I have tattoos and my grandmother hates them. Rather than hiding my ink, I try and show her that they are a part of me and that I love them. Sure she's not crazy about them, but she has learned to accept the fact that this is just who I am.

Tattoos can be meaningful or playful, artistic or simple, and whatever they are it's none of your business. It is no ones business but my own if I have tattoos and what they mean. The heart and equal sign on my wrist should have no impact on your choice to come to my place of work, just like your haircut shouldn't impact my choice to come to your place of work. It's the same thing.

End the stigma with tattoos. Allow your employees to showcase their personality and be who they want to be. Happy employees are better employees.