Management Queries - Should staff cover up tattoos?

Q. Do other settings have a policy on employees’ tattoos? Do you allow them to be on show? Just for the record, I have them myself but wonder if I should have a written policy in case I employ someone with a tattoo that is perhaps scary or inappropriate.

Liza Webb, area manager, Wind In The Willows Childcare

‘We don’t have a policy on this and it has never really been an issue. When I was younger my mum told me I could not get a tattoo because I would never be able to get a job if I did! But attitudes have changed and it’s commonplace to have them.

‘We do have members of staff with tattoos but none of them have rude words on them or show anything inappropriate. If they did, we could ask them to cover them. But the ones I have seen are proper, decorative art and fantastically drawn.

‘We have a policy about good practice, which includes that staff need to be presentable and clean. Actually we have more of a problem with finger nails than tattoos, and we have specific policies on this. We do not allow staff to have big, stuck-on fingernails. They are a health and safety issue when handling food and you often cannot see if the nails are dirty underneath. They also present a scratching issue with the children. In addition, if a member of staff is changing nappies and needs to wear gloves, the nails can tear them.’

Emma Bryant, nursery manager, Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries High Wycombe

‘Previously we had a policy that all tattoos, as much as possible, must be covered. We have updated this to say tattoos should not be excessive and covered, if possible. But if a tattoo is inappropriate for the children, it must be covered.

‘I have tattoos myself and I can cover them. But we are aware that we are in a world where a lot of people express themselves through tattoos and art. So as a company we embrace and acknowledge that. Also in the summer, if someone has tattoos on their arms, we cannot expect them to wear long sleeves when it is 30 degrees outside. But if the tattoo is of something unsuitable, obviously, our first priority is to keep children safe and not expose them to such things.

‘In some ways it is difficult to judge what is inappropriate. But if someone had, for example, a devil face, that would clearly be scary. Inappropriate language, a gun or knife, or a naked lady, would all not be ok. Most of the tattoos our staff have are floral patterns, which are fine.

‘A few years ago I interviewed a girl who had obvious tattoos on her face. She had covered them up with very strong foundation, and she was very aware that some workplaces would be unimpressed by having someone in the workplace looking like that. It did not put me off offering her the job. But if she had joined us, we would have had a conversation about how to manage the tattoos – perhaps keeping the make-up on when meeting children for the first time, or around new parents.’

Aslihan Mani, nursery manager, Rainbow Day Nursery Langdon Road

‘Our policy states that visible tattoos we deem to be inappropriate will be discussed with the manager, and decisions made on an individual basis.

‘People should be able to celebrate their own being and their own preferences. Other people should respect individuality, especially in the workplace. But when we talk abouta tattoo being deemed inappropriate, in a childcare setting we are talking about safeguarding. If there is anything that indicates terrorism or radicalisation, then that is obviously something we need to take into account. Also, beware of any political connotations that might be controversial. Anything gory or even nudity might be a bit scary for the children.

‘We have never had a problem in our setting. We have staff with tattoos like flowers or butterflies on their arms. Sometimes children are interested in the tattoos and ask questions. It might be something they do not see at home. It is good for children to be exposed to different ways of life, to see things that are different, and that we celebrate differences in people. And it is good for them to be able to ask questions and for us to support their curiosity.

‘When I started working in childcare 13 years ago, it was very different. I worked in a nursery where staff had to cover every single tattoo with plasters. It got to the point where staff were walking around with bandages on their arms. As a whole, our sector is big on staff wellbeing and we would contradict ourselves if we did not allow tattoos.’