[mark_roberts]

Im wanting to take on another part timer.

We wear short sleeve shirts.

I dont want a guy with tattoos.

So during an interview can I ask if he has tattoos?
Can I ask him to keep them covered by getting him a long sleeve shirt?

Any other problems with this?

THanks
Mark

[Neil Jones]

I dont think you can discriminate against people with tattoos and not give them the job, you could but just don't say it out loud, but you can ask him to wear a long sleeve shirt. I have tattoos on my arms, which i do regret, but it never seems a problem with my customers, at least I don't think 

[Paul H]

Why dont you want a chap with tattoos and their arms?

what if they are the best candidate?

i have tattoos... never had an issue but work for myself..

I think they maybe more accepted in society now anyways...well certainly on arms..

its when someone tips up with them on their neck head & face.. now that maybe a bit off putting and intimidating

[derek west]

agree with paul, you'll be amazed these days just how many of your customers have them hidden away. a lot more than you think, stop being so old fashioned, loads of people have them. i had a guy in a suit come to my house trying to sell me something, i was topless fixing the van and he commented on my tats in a nice way, then rolled up his trouser leg to reveal a massive tribal, turned out he had loads, well in his fifties and a right posh en.

i personally think you could miss out on the best candidate if your putting tattoos into the equasion of who doesn't qualify,

ps... ive had 2 helpers, both covered in them and not only were and are they great workers, but the customers get on great with them, its not the tatts its the personality that counts.
thats my 2 penneth.
hope this helps

[Craigp]

Mark, I understand your concerns, I have tattos on my shoulders out of sight whilst wearing short sleeves and must say now im in this job I am glad I never got any on my forearms. It gives the wrong impression to clients.

I see what the others are saying, all very noble but the reason I wear a proper shirt is the same reason - appearance matters.

[elliott cleaning]

agree with paul, you'll be amazed these days just how many of your customers have them hidden away. a lot more than you think, stop being so old fashioned, ...........

I reckon that's a fair comment Derek.   The 'hidden away' is the crucial part of your post.  Who is anyone to criticise how others want to mutilate their bodies.  Personally don't find any attractive - but then I'm just 'old fashioned'

[dan paton]

mark in my opinion it would depend what tattoos they had. if it was home-made indian ink jobs with love and hate on their knuckles then no . if it was a symbol on the arm and the guy was a nice person then yes . where i was brought up in glasgow it was cool in the early 80s to get a celtic or an ira tattoo done(i never) but i bet their regretting it now. what im saying is there's not the same stigma to them as there was years ago . pick the guy or girl on their own merit

[derek west]

then your the perfect guy to ask.
scenario
if you had 2 quotes for windows and doors, one guy came round in suit and tie and quoted you 3k, was serious with his notepad and measure etc.
next guy came round in a nice van but tshirt and tatts, cracked a few sensible jokes and entered into some witty banter with charm, quoted the same price 3k. who would you go with elliot cleaning?

@dan patton.

you mean "love and hat" cos they lost a finger

[Allan Simmons]

I think Derek and others are right, the general attitude towards tattoos has changed massively.  We used to have an unofficial No Tatts policy when we started 20 odd years ago but not now if the guy is the right one tatts aren't a problem.  It does depend WHAT the tatts are of course, we had one guy turn up with full sleeve forearm of naked women, NEXT no matter how good he was.

The way we handle the visible arm tatts is the techy arrives with either long sleves, or his coat or jacket, or sweatshirt on, so they are covered.  He then introduces himself and gets to know the client as he unloads and sets up (potentially putting the customer at ease) then he can remove his jacket, coat etc to reveal the tatts.

Hope that helps.

Al.

[dan paton]

i'd go with the witty guy with a few funny jokes .  face to face  marketing is about having a rapport with the customer . if the customer likes you then you got the job unless your dressed like a tramp but a nice polo shirt and a pair of combats on is acceptable . your not a lawyer turning up your a carpet cleaner  

[wynne jones]

Just ask them on an application form, don't waste time interviewing someone you can eliminate. It is your choice who you want working for you so long as it's not on sex, religious, disability (if they could do the job) or race ground.

[Craigp]

We are missing Marks question it was not asking our opinon on weather or not to employ them, it was, can he ask?

Can he ask?

[dan paton]

fair enough . refer to wynne jones's answer then but in my own personal opinion i'll go back to the answer from derek west . how many times have i seen the sentence on here businessmen first and carpet cleaners second . me personally i'd rather have someone who could strike up a brilliant rapport with a customer tattoos or not

[wynne jones]

The good news is there are plenty of people we can still discriminate against and keep them out of a job.

Gingers, fat people, people who sweat too much, ugly people, dwarfs, people with annoying laughs, lanky people, scousers, people with skin conditions and of course smart arses.

So long as they are not black, gay, in a wheelchair or wear a turban knock yourself out.

Personally I don't care what they are like so long as they are trainable and honest.
 

[dan paton]

[

Personally I don't care what they are like so long as they are trainable and honest.
 
[/quote]
spot on wynne

[Jim_77]

You forgot about the Welsh

[Garyj]

He said trainable and honest, that ruled the Welsh out 

[Garyj]

I had someone working for me once who I had to sack because he always
had his tattoo on show.

It was on his cock.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Check the spelling and grammer first.

Shaun

[Nick Attwood]

I have a half sleeve on my left for arm from my younger days, have to say in the last 10 years I've only been asked to cover it up once and that was during a stay in Belfast while on a course.

Was not allowed in the pubs with the tattoos showing, it took me a back but I obliged not wanting to miss some of the black stuff.