Tattoos may be socially acceptable but they can still hinder your chances of getting a job.

Brisbane employers say they’d prefer their workers not to have body art and if they do to cover it up.

Rachel Tinney reports.

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TRANSCRIPT

Tattoos are everywhere.

From hospitality to professional services like law and accounting, chances are, someone will have one. They’ll just be covered up.

Some employers worry visible tattoos may be off-putting or offensive to customers.

Keith Minchin, EuroMarque: “A percentage of our guys have tattoos – we don’t ban them. We don’t have an official company policy on it at the moment, but we are concerned about some of our conservative clients.”

Staff at the Flamingo Cafe in Fortitude Valley have a more light-hearted attitude towards their tattoos.

Naomi Corbett, Flamingo Cafe: “I think that terrifying customers is a good way to start the day. It’s good, you scare them and they behave the whole time.”

Body art has become increasingly popular in the last decade. The latest figures show 40 per cent of 26 to 40 year olds have at least one tattoo.

So should tattoos be covered up in the workplace?

Vox 1: “Definitely. If it’s something that, you know, clothes can cover, then it’s probably a good idea.”

Vox 2: “If you want to have tattoos by all means do it, but it’s not for me.”

Vox 3: “Most definitely, I don’t personally like tattoos at all. I think they’re dirty and definitely should be covered up in the workplace.”

Whatever your workplace, it may be worthwhile to cover up just in case.

Rachel Tinney, QUT News.