Every day, many people ask, both online and in our office, whether it is possible to be fired because of a tattoo. After all, in the past, this was not such a remote possibility, and it is legitimate to ask the question even today. Although the perception of tattooed people has changed radically and the number of people with at least one tattoo on their skin is growing exponentially, it is useful to clarify the issue.
Work and tattoos: dismissal due to a tattoo
Let’s try to answer this question: can you risk being fired for a tattoo? We asked experts to give us their opinion and tell us what the law says on the matter. It should be remembered that dismissal from a job can never be based on the free will of the employer, but must follow the relevant regulations.
In the Italian legal system, there are no laws prohibiting the display of tattoos in public. After all, it is a person’s skin and body.
Law enforcement agencies are the only exception that proves the rule. Both the military and law enforcement agencies require their members not to display their tattoos in public. Please note: this does not mean that it is forbidden to have tattoos, only that they must not be visible in accordance with military regulations. This is also because they are identifying marks which, in some cases, it would be preferable not to show. One example is those who carry out undercover operations. A distinctive sign such as a tattoo could jeopardize their safety.
What about all other cases? There are no clear written rules on this matter.
It should be noted that although some companies have imposed a ban on tattoos in their internal regulations, such a request has been deemed discriminatory and therefore unacceptable. Even those with tattoos have the right to work.
But can you be fired for a tattoo? Let’s see what the law says in this case too. Here too, there is no clear and unambiguous legislation on the matter.
However, it should be emphasized that a tattoo may prevent an employee from being hired. After all, no one can force a business owner to hire people they do not consider appropriate for the decorum of their business. Many companies, but also many professional firms, require a certain level of sobriety that must always be guaranteed. In light of the above, it is easy to get an idea of what having a tattoo on your skin entails in terms of employment, both for hiring and firing.
