Tattoos in the workplace Essay

Exercise 4.2- Tattoos in the workplace
Answer#1 Yes the employer has every right to institute policies and regulations regarding dress codes. An employer has to consider many things before hiring an employee. One of them is the physical appearance of an employee, which studies over time have proven to be an important factor in the success of certain industries. For example, in the hospitality and public dealing related institutions or industry, appearance counts a lot. And having a good dress can make employees even more attractive, something that a customer values. Therefore, an employer has to be careful that those factors that may negatively affect the appearance of an employee (like a tattoo) may be regulated. An employer invests his time and money despite many uncertainties, and would like his business to succeed. It naturally follows that he would like to take out or put a stop to those factors that can hurt his business. Therefore, employers have a right to enforce dress codes. When they hire an employee, they buy their services. By default, an employee accepts terms and conditions of work, including the dress code.
Courts are generally lenient in enforcing dress codes, and on many occasions, have granted decisions in favor of employers over employees in this matter. For example, in Seabrook vs. City of New York, one of the female Correction Officer alleged violation of her fundamental rights (first and fourteenth amendment of US constitution) when the managers there ordered her to wear trouser pants that all others were wearing. But the court denied her relief on the grounds that enforcing the dress code was a non-discriminatory act. The trousers were designed so that in an emergency situation, safety gear could be easily attached to it. Therefore, she had to abide by that code.
Answer#2 The most important thing for an employer to consider when designing hiring policies is to be aware of federal or state regulations in this regard. If his policies are in line with those regulations, then he is in his right to hire or fire an employee as he desires. The concerned statutes related to work prohibit discrimination based on religion, sex, nationality (or national origin), race and color. Any regulation designed by an organization or an employer that is in contrast to these criteria can mean a heavy penalty for the employer if any law suit alleging discrimination lands in a court.
Other than this, the employers should use their experience and judgment while designing and implementing general standards of appearance. For example, dressing standards for somebody doing clerical work in an office and a person who has to drive to deliver goods at a place cannot be expected to be the same. A person sitting at the desk is not supposed to do any such activity that may get their clothes dirty. Plus, they have to deal with public at large. Therefore, they are expected to have presentable clothing. In contrast, the standards need to be probably relaxed in the case of the