I have a professional position which requires me to be well cleaned and tidy. I was just wondering if getting my ear pierced a bad idea? Would it be worse if I pierced both ears instead of just one?
2007-02-23 03:41:29 · 15 answers · asked by roby_118 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I think it's frowned upon, but I don't see why...people should be free to express themselves in the workplace; it's the attitude and how well the person does his/her job that's important. A person in a suit could act just as unprofessionally as someone dressed more casually. At any rate, my suggestion would be to go ahead and get your ear pierced if you want to, then just wear the earrings on the weekends. And I don't think piercing both is any worse than just getting one piercing.
2007-02-23 03:49:14 · answer #1 · answered by Persephone 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I work for an aerospace defense contractor, which is just about the most conservative workplace you can imagine. FWIW, around here there are a fair number of guys with ear piercings who are in staff positions, and a few in middle-management, but zero, zip, nada in any upper management position.
I think that if you take a good look at the people in your workplace who are upwardly mobile, you can get an answer to your question-- assuming you want upward mobility. It's unfortunate, but a large component of promotability is how well the people in a position to help your career think you'd fit in with the ranks of management. Nobody is going to mentor you if they think that they will look bad by doing so.
That said, it isn't necessarily a good thing to be fast-tracked for promotion if you have to turn yourself inside out to fit in. If the "true you" wears earrings and you feel like it would be a denial of self to not get a piercing, then by all means get pierced.
Possibly you can get by with a small stud or innocuous gold ring on one ear, which you remove when your duties bring you into contact with people who don't approve of them. Just a thought.
2007-02-23 13:07:22 · answer #2 · answered by Karin C 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a young male and having both hears pierced was a question in the air also. When I went to the interview, I took them both out. Now I just wear them to work. They were still able to see the holes but it shows you had the courtesy to take them out for the interview. If they don't like it I'm sure they will tell you. You can't get fired for a guy having earrings or else there would be a decent lawsuit on their hands.
2007-02-23 12:18:21 · answer #3 · answered by JigZor 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the workplace. I teach in a high school, and many of the teachers are pierced, tattooed, etc. However, when I was at a corporate job, I had to cover my nose ring and wear my hair down to cover all of my earrings.
I am a woman however, so maybe it's a double standard.
My brother, on the other hand, who has two gages in each ear, finds that many white collar positions ask him to remove them. I would ask your employer / potential employer how they feel about that sort of thing. Also, check around the company for signs of "life."
2007-02-23 11:46:40 · answer #4 · answered by smiksmak 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree that what really should matter is how well someone does their job but ear rings and tatoos can be distracting. First impression is everything. When you can't even get someone to look past those ear rings, then how can you even prove what you can do? No reason why you can't get them pierced but wear the decoration outside of work.
2007-02-23 12:09:50 · answer #5 · answered by pathfindercia 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Earrings are always inappropriate in a professional arena. Though it may look tidy and you enjoy having it(them),but it distracts your customers or clients from "seeing you" and not the earrings.
2007-02-23 21:24:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unless you happen to be a music video producer, or Linux programmer, earrings are going to be frowned upon. Why take the chance that you could offend your boss or customers? It's not like you can't put it back in when you're not working.
2007-02-23 12:33:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anthony Stark 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not just for a man, but for anyone in a professional workplace. i can't stand to go to a nice restraunt and the hostess has rings in her eyebrows and chin and tongue. i definately think it is inappropriate for business. recreation time is whatever time. you can have as many rings as you want to then.
2007-02-23 12:06:38 · answer #8 · answered by jean d 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think so... But then again, I didn't write your dress code. Some old bitty ex librarian or a fat old man in accounting who was born in 1910 probably did?
23 skidoo!
2007-02-23 11:49:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Earrings on a man is ALWAYS inappropriate! It's really tacky and gay!
2007-02-23 12:56:49 · answer #10 · answered by Alison 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋