Dating a Japanese guy who is having trouble finding full-time employment due to having tattoos.
He was hired as a part timer at a bike shop and tattoos weren’t a problem. Over the past two months, he has impressed his manager who then got him set up an interview on spot with a higher up in the company for a full time position.
They were enthusiastic about him and offered him a position with conditions. One of them being he must remove his tattoos. None of his tattoos are visible with clothing and they’re small. He tried to explain that they are a part of his identity but they said they cannot make exceptions for one person.
Anyone else been through something like this?
Can employers discriminate against tattoos like this? It’s not illegal or in their policy !
26 comments
Oh honey, let me help you out here. If he’s having trouble finding permanent employment because he’s being discriminated against because of tattoos noone can see he’s the problem not the tattoos.
They don’t strip you naked and inspect you before hiring you. If he’s actually having a problem, and I really suspect he isn’t he just doesn’t want a full time job, the only reason he’s having a problem is because he’s creating one.
if they’re not visible he can just say he removed them. they’re not gonna give him a physical examination. it’s the same in most places. “no tattoos allowed. oh you have a bandage all over your arm and thigh? welcome in sir.”
They’re probably testing his loyalty. There’s make-up cream specifically for hiding tattoos. Just cover them up really well, say they’re gone now and go on with it.
I mean it sucks for your boyfriend but it’s a private business. They can hire or not hire whoever they want as is your boyfriend free to reject the offer if its a dealbreaker.
if they are not visible under clothes – how anyone would know about them?
Removed? As in they want him to do laser removal, or cut them out?
I have a lot of tattoos and have never had trouble finding employment…because I don’t tell anyone I have tattoos. I just cover them and go about my day.
Why is he telling them he has tattoos??
Why would he disclose he has tattoos if they are not visible?? This is honestly the part that blows my mind. You say he is Japanese, so surely, he knows there are more chances than none that that would be the outcome. All the people I know who are tattooed are not advertising it and thus is never made into a problem.
Mmm, is it possible he doesn’t want to work there?
The tattoo thing is done. Many Japanese people don’t, and for the foreseeable future won’t, like tattoos. It’s not a secret and calling out discrimination is old and pointless. Cover them up if necessary.
I have tatts and a job. No one knows and I get on with my shit.
Unfortunately, the problem was that he told them he had them. I understand wanting to “be honest” but an employer is actually not entitled to any details about you (medical, physical, etc) that isn’t relevant to work. At this point he might just get some covering makeup or something and just say they’re gone.
So I think there are one of two problems going on here:
* 1: He’s telling his (potential) employers about his tattoos. I have a tattoo on my inner arm and have had zero trouble being employed in hospitals or in the corporate sector. I do not announce that I have a tattoo and thus there is no issue to be had. I would *highly* suggest he does the same in the future.
* 2: This man is either trying to pull a fast one on you and have you pay for things, or is just grossly under qualified in every possible way. If he has a university degree he should be able to find a job. If he has anything less than a high school diploma reconsider the relationship if you are bothered by his lack of stable employment because it will become a pattern.
> Can employers discriminate against tattoos like this
Tatoo is a protected class where you came from?
I personally don’t mind people with tattoos, and in fact I know one girl with two huge face tattoos, but…. She works at punk bar where she can get away with that sort of thing (perhaps it’s even a plus!)
I also dated a girl with a small tattoo on her wrist, and it wasn’t just onsens, but many fancy resteraunts wouldn’t let us in.
Anyway sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but ..
Having tattoos is not a protected class or anything like that.
It is completely 100% legal to discriminate against people with tattoos, and almost no normal company will hire people with visible tattoos.
If they are small and not visible, then it wouldn’t normally be a problem – because the employer wouldn’t know about them to begin with.
Getting tattoos is not like skin color or nationality, it is a voluntary life choice, and in Japan if you make that choice, you are knowingly locking yourself out of employment opportunities.
Unless the tattoos have some strong intimate meaning, I would get them removed, chalk it up to the indiscretion of youth, and move on.
(And if they are really not visible, he could get them reapplied later and nobody would know).
I remember my interview for my job. One of the questions was if I had, or was planning to get tattoos.
It’s a big deal for Japanese companies it seems, and even if you’re over qualified for the position, it could be all lost on this one question.
Although I don’t have any tattoos, I really sympathize with those who do and have these issues. Like if you are in a customer facing job and have a huge spider face tattoo, then I kinda get it… company image and all. But still seems petty.
Don’t ask don’t tell. It is the Japanese way.
I was under the impression that removing a tattoo was basically burning the skin with lasers and takes weeks/months to remove one. Not to mention the cost if you are removing multiple. Probably best to find a job in an area with a lot of foreigners where tattoos are more accepted?
I was turned away from golds gym because of my tattoos, I went to donki and bought the skin coloured patches that hide them a week later.
Told the receptionist I got them removed and showed a peek of my arm and it worked xD.
It sucks but Japan is super discriminatory with their hiring practices. It would be hard to lie and maintain it in a workplace. If he ends up working elsewhere just tell him to keep it private that he has tats.
Its not America or Europe where you can scream discrimination and everyone shits their pants.
When the question arose he only has two options .
1. remove tattoo
2. find another work
Well how they knew he had tattoos?
Shouldn’t have got too buddy buddy with a new job if he was showing them off
My husband is a tattooed Japanese man and he just doesn’t say anything, because he knows that most company’s wouldn’t accept them. My advice is, just don’t say anything next time.
They know it’s hard and costly to remove, indirectly signaling they don’t want to hire him. It’s straightforward; he needs to find a different job sooner or later.
Having a tattoo has been considered bad for a long time, and older generations still think so. However, younger generations’ parents are from these older generations, so the negative sentiment against having tattoos hasn’t changed, even among younger generations. They understand that having a visible tattoo poses a risk to working as a white-collar worker in a good company, and many young people still avoid it.
Younger individuals are aware that people from abroad sometimes have tattoos, even if they are well-educated or successful white-collar workers. That’s why many people don’t harbor negative feelings about tattooed foreigners, but this principle doesn’t apply to Japanese locals.
Think about the hiring process as a bridge, a mutual consent between the employers and the candidate. Both can say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to each other for whatever criteria each side has. If this is a red flag for him, then, he can try to keep his part-time job while looking actively for other opportunities elsewhere.
“Part of his identity” that’s cool and all but a company has rules and he can’t abide by the rules, too bad! Also Japan hates tattoos I’m sure he knew that.
I know a few Japanese working at traditional offices with tattoos but as long as they cover them up their managers could care less. I’d advise your boyfriend for his next interview at company B to cover up the tattoos and not bring them up.
Downvote all you want, but this isn’t the US of “ME ME ME and my identity!” It’s the culture here and your *Japanese* partner sure as FUCK should know that.
If removing them is not an option, obviously the position is not an option. Tell him to not let other potential workplaces know about them in the future.