Discrimination In Workplace

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Tattoos and piercings do not affect a person’s ability to do their job well, yet discrimination is allowed against knowledgeable professionals who may have a visible tattoo or piercing which can be a benefit in some cases.
Tattoos and piercings do not affect a person’s ability to do their job well. Scovell states, “We should not exclude people with knowledge and ability merely because they wear a mark on their arms, neck or face,” showing her belief that a person’s personal style does not affect how well they can perform in the workplace (27). “Professionalism is not encapsulated in how we look, but in our knowledge, behaviour and attitudes,” is a great example of where someone should really look for what is a person’s actual professionalism
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Scovell states, “Allowing the general public to decide how their nurses should look is a dangerous path,” which shows her concern of people’s discrimination and how it could affect her profession (26). Discrimination in the workplace happens in many different ways and “It is a short step from not liking a tattoo on a nurse’s arm to not liking the colour of their skin,” (Scovell 26). Would it be all right for someone to be offended that the nurse taking care of them was wearing a Bindi? No, the Bindi that nurse is wearing in no way impairs her abilities to do a great and professional job taking care of their patients. So why is it alright for someone to be offended that the nurse taking care of them has a tattoo? Many people “still have old prejudices,” but how can we as a society “allow prejudice to influence the way that we conduct ourselves professionally” (Scovell 26)? More and more companies are starting to permit “any type of displayed body art as long as it is not offensive” (Foltz 593). The company “Borders Group Inc.” allows “tattoos and other body art as long as the employee’s dress and behavior were professional” (Pyrillis, 2010) (Foltz 593). This is a great forward thinking company. They can see past someone’s personal style to the valuable employee beneath and the knowledge that that person can