Message #46720

[countrigal]

I must be a minority in my thinking.  I think that if it is tasteful and not glaring, that body jewelry should not be an issue any more than earrings are.  If you are to write a policy addressing body jewelry, then it should also address earrings.  I would think that if the person most qualified has something that simple in, then it is no worse than wearing little gold studs in your ears and I would hire her.  Remember that while our hiring group is getting younger, with the accompanying style changes, so our our customers.  She might just bring in a different age or group of customers too.  Knowing what is appropriate and acceptable in body jewelry should be no different than knowing what is appropriate in earrings or rings, and should be considered part of the whole package.  The fact that they have them or don't should not be the issue, but whether they wear them appropriately for the position they're applying for.

Personally, I have had my tongue pierced for almost 5 years, and have gone to interviews during that time with it.  When I got it pierced, I thought long and hard on how it would affect my career and how others view me and therefore got it pierced far enough back that it did not show or click on my teeth every time I smiled or talked.  In fact, most folks never knew I had it unless I told them or laughed really hard.  If I thought that it might be an issue, I had a flesh-colored top disk to go on it, but this cut the roof of my mouth if worn too long so I didn't wear it except when needed.  I miss it now, as I had to have it out when I had my baby and by the time I could put it back the hole had closed, but I enjoyed it while I had it.  Just something different and fun, and another way for me to show my crazier side, but only when appropriate.  A nose ring would be harder to hide daily, but keeping a discreet gold ring in would be less glaring and still give her the benefit of going crazier off-duty, and not really affect her ability to do the job.  As for internal customer's views of it... like most things, the more we are exposed to it, the more we stop noticing and judging and just accept it.  If a co-worker has a lisp, you notice it for a while but soon no longer focus on the lisp as it is just a part of that person.  Same thing here.

All of this is IMHO, of course.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator