Tattoos have existed for a long time and have always been a symbol of belonging, cultural expression or religion. Nowadays, people choose to get tattoos because it is part of their lifestyle or personal image. While it continues to grow in popularity and become a way of life, people are facing issues with visible tattoos in the workforce. Although it is a form of free expression, employers have the right to enforce certain tattoo rules in their company because they have a public image to uphold. What's important is how you present yourself to the public, which is why tattoos should not be seen in the workplace, as they may appear offensive or non-conservative. Even though tattoos are becoming part of the culture and socially acceptable, the negative aspects and prejudicial attitudes towards those who practice body art are still present. Not all tattoos are gang related and it should be noted that historically they have been a symbol of someone's culture or religion. Other tattoos may only have personal meaning to the owner and are not intended to be offensive. People also don't understand that a tattoo can prevent them from pursuing a professional career, regardless of their qualifications. Employers realize that the need to hire workers from diverse backgrounds is important in such a competitive workforce, so they provide solutions by adopting reasonable dress code policies. Laws generally support an employer's dress code and appearance policies, while employers seek to be flexible by having employees present themselves in a manner consistent with the employer's image (Lord). As long as they don't discriminate based on race, color, religion, age, national origin, or sex, employers are a......mid-paper ense program. Rete. 07 December 2011. .Lordo, Bari. "Tattoos in the workplace: what should an employer do? | Work and employment Human resources and personnel management from AllBusiness.com." Small Business Consulting | Business news and articles | AllBusiness.com. All business. Network. December 07, 2011. .Melville, Jennifer D. "Tattoos and Workplace Discrimination | EHow.com." EHow | Educational videos, articles and more: discover the expert within you. | EHow.com. EHow. Network. 07 December 2011. .Whickson, Jay P. “Workplace Discrimination Over Tattoos and Piercings.” Small Businesses - Chron.com. Demand average. Network. 07 December. 2011. .