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  • Ink or Instinct? The Truth About Tattoos & Workplace Bias... - Mar 14, 2025

Ink or Instinct? The Truth About Tattoos & Workplace Bias... - Mar 14, 2025

Your weekly HR goody, the countdown for the ultimate HR bundle is on, AI's tangible impact on HR, plus HR insights and wisdom you can’t miss.

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Hi there, HR Pros! 👋 This isn’t just another Friday — it’s your moment to rethink workplace bias, one tattoo at a time… As attitudes shift, is your HR policy keeping up? Let’s talk ink, inclusion, and hiring perceptions.

On the agenda: 

💉 Ink or Instinct? The truth about tattoos & workplace bias…

The Countdown: Time’s ticking to grab the ultimate HR bundle!

💫 Tangible Impacts of AI on HR: According to latest research.

PLUS: Your Employee Training Plan — a clear and documented roadmap.

THE HR SPOTLIGHT

Ink or Instinct? The Truth About Tattoos & Workplace Bias…

tattoo

In 2025’s diverse workforce, tattoos have become increasingly common, with approximately 3 in 10 of Americans sporting at least one piece of body art. Yet, despite their prevalence, the question remains: do tattoos influence hiring decisions and workplace dynamics?

Perceptions and Realities: While outright discrimination is reportedly low, perceptions tell a different story. A significant 76% of people believe that visible tattoos can negatively impact a candidate's chances during a job interview. This disparity suggests that while overt bias may be declining, underlying prejudices persist…

Gender Dynamics: Women with tattoos often face unique challenges. Around 15% of women report experiencing workplace discrimination due to their tattoos, a rate higher than their male counterparts.

Industry Variations: The attitude toward tattoos varies across sectors. Creative industries tend to be more lenient, valuing individuality and self-expression. Conversely, traditional fields like finance and law often uphold conservative appearance standards, potentially disadvantaging tattooed professionals.

Evolving Attitudes: Encouragingly, societal views are shifting. Over 9 in 10 managers acknowledge that workplaces have become more relaxed towards tattoos and attire compared to a decade ago. This evolution reflects a broader move towards inclusivity and recognition of skills over appearance.

While tattoos are more accepted nowadays, it's still essential for both employers and employees to navigate the nuances around them. Organizations should strive for clear policies that balance professionalism with personal expression, ensuring that biases —whether inked or instinctual — don't cloud judgment.

Curious about crafting effective tattoo policies in your workplace? Dive deeper into the topic by reading HRAddict's guide:

FRIDAY’S STEAL

THE COUNTDOWN: To Unlock HR Efficiency with this Ultimate Toolkit

spring bundle

Unlock HR excellence with the Ultimate HR Bundle this week. Whether you’re looking to streamline processes, boost efficiency, or drive results, this HR bundle has everything you need:

  • Customizable HR tools to suit your organization’s unique needs

  • 100+ resources to help improve HR workflows

  • Employee management solutions to improve engagement

  • Actionable resources to elevate your HR strategy

Don’t miss out this week — spring forward into another era of HR with this toolkit!

The Spring promo ends this week, March 16 — midnight EST.

TREND WATCH

Recent Research Identifies Tangible Impacts of AI on HR

HR desk

HR Brew — Recent research highlights AI’s growing role in HR, improving efficiency, reducing bias, and enhancing employee experiences. AI speeds up HR tasks, helps identify skills, and supports career development. As adoption rises, HR teams must balance automation with human oversight to maximize impact.

TOGETHER WITH DEEL

Discover the many benefits of global hiring

Global hiring and remote work are rising. Deel’s here to help. With our Business Case for Global Hiring Guide, we’ll guide you through everything.

Learn more about:

  • Benefits of global hiring

  • Global hiring methods

  • Costs of global hiring

  • Solutions to global hiring challenges

Isn't it time you dive into a world of global hiring capabilities? Explore the ins and outs of global hiring with our free, ready-to-use guide.

NEWS THAT MATTERS

📉 Employee Distrust in HR at Worrying Level — Just 1 in 4 employees believe HR will address toxic behavior. [HCAMag]

⚖️ Employment Rights Top HR Priorities — HR teams prioritize adapting to emerging employment laws. [PersonnelToday]

🕵️‍♂️ What Causes Blame Culture at Work? REPORT — High figures of employee sabotage linked to workplace blame culture. [Canadian HR Reporter]

💡 Idea Theft Concerns: Should HR Worry? — Exploring the prevalence and impact of idea theft in the workplace. [PersonnelToday]

🚫 Abortion Bans Are Influencing Careers — How abortion restrictions are affecting workers' career choices. [HR Brew]

HR WISDOM

How to Promote Mental Health in the Workplace: 20 Quick Tips

workplace

It’s no secret that the world of work is getting ever more demanding, with organizations needing to do more with less, and these pressures being passed onto their people.

The prevalence of mental health issues in the workplace is increasing, and organizations don’t just have a professional duty to promote mental wellbeing, but a moral need to do so, too.

This article discusses how to promote mental health in the workplace, offering practical strategies to implement to ensure a happier, healthier and more productive workforce.

WEEKLY HR GOODY

An Employee Training Plan

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When employees receive regular training, it helps improve their existing skills and learn other ones. In addition, it also helps boost work results and productivity — and lower turnover too. And you can achieve that with our Employee Training Plan: your documented roadmap for educating employees.

Download link available to subscribers via email.

BREAKROOM

Friday phone rings fire meme

SMART READS

🎙️ Interviewing techniques for employers in 2025.

🤐 How to handle gossip in the workplace.

🥇 Examples of successful HR strategies to consider.