Sly in the workplace

[Razor X]

I've seen a lot of posts from fence-sitters who worry that the sly look won't be tolerated in the workplace.  It's usually the white collar corporate employees and teachers who have this fear.  But I don't recall a single case where the fear turned out to be justified.  I've seen the occasional post from people who work for small companies/single proprietorships, that deal directly with the public, whose employers have a rather unenlightened view of shaved heads, but I've never heard anyone who worked for a big corporation or a school district say that their employers had a negative reaction to an employee's shaved head.

In this age of business casual attire, a lot of the rules regarding personal appearance seem to have been relaxed.  What I don't see in the corporate world are visible tattoos, long hair on men or earrings/piercings on men; those seem to still be taboo. But I see plenty of shaved heads, which tends to suggest that it isn't a problem at all.  Any white collar types out there who ran into problems at work after shaving their heads -- or does anybody know anyone who did?

[pdxtodd]

Zero negative reactions from corporate staff or clients.  I work in the white collar world and am face-to-face with client executives on a daily basis.  Not a single negative reaction to sly.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Razor you've protrayed the business world today as it is.  And in many areas, NYC, etc., it's rare to see any grown out fringes either--most are tightly buzzed or shaved, it's almost universal for the guys under 50, but also true for the more "mature" business guys too.  And, never, I mean never any comment, unless it's a guy w/ a fringe needing to know how to get free.   

[Mikekoz13]

I work in a very "Professional" atmosphere...... a lot of shirt and tie types..... and everyday I go to work with my Harley t-shirts, shaved head, and tattooed arms (very visible). All of these things occasionally raise eyebrows but my professional skills and work habits over ride everything else.

I've been questioned about all of these things on various occasions by various people..... but always in a curious type of way... never negative.

[mangosink12572]

Shaved heads are in  - -and I have two guys working for me with shaved heads  - three including me  - - - -long hair  -piercings -  tattoos and earings are not the thing here  - -IBM will not even look at you  - - - - - SLY BALD - no problem

[Mikekoz13]

Shaved heads are in  - -and I have two guys working for me with shaved heads  - three including me  - - - -long hair  -piercings -  tattoos and earings are not the thing here  - -IBM will not even look at you  - - - - - SLY BALD - no problem

Well I'm glad that I don't work for such a bigoted company. It's about skills not looks........

[CraftyGuy]

Well I'm glad that I don't work for such a bigoted company. It's about skills not looks........

I was thinking it, but glad you said it!

[tomgallagher]

It's probably the same old deal....long hair your a hippie, shaved head your a nazi, etc, etc. etc.

[Bilko1]

When I had my first head shave in 2003, I had to go into the office the very next day. The only reactions I recived were ones of surprise & admiration that I had the guts to do it. Not had any negative reactions to being bald at work whatesoever.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Shaved heads are in  - -and I have two guys working for me with shaved heads  - three including me  - - - -long hair  -piercings -  tattoos and earings are not the thing here  - -IBM will not even look at you  - - - - - SLY BALD - no problem

Well I'm glad that I don't work for such a bigoted company. It's about skills not looks........

Other than sly, that is tattoos and piercings, I think the general business world is okay provided that they're not visible or in a few cases that the position doesn't require general interaction with the general public.  The value judgment they're making is probably more about the potential of adverse effects on the purpose of the business be it service or general retail sales.  They also have restrictions on beards in many instances, goatees and staches, neatly trimmed are generally acceptable, full beards and long beards are less acceptable.  It's hard to say if they're bigoted, but they are concerned that their customer or client base will be put off by visible tattoos and piercings to the point it will affect their cash flow.  The other factor is the kind of business, some such as general IT, etc. are much more relaxed than, say retail sales or professional services.  But generally in the States employment is "at will" so they have the right to "discriminate" unless it's a legally protected class.  I don't think Congress or any of the States will act to make people who have piercings and tattoos a protected class anytime in the near future.  It's just the way it is.

[Mikekoz13]

Shaved heads are in  - -and I have two guys working for me with shaved heads  - three including me  - - - -long hair  -piercings -  tattoos and earings are not the thing here  - -IBM will not even look at you  - - - - - SLY BALD - no problem

Well I'm glad that I don't work for such a bigoted company. It's about skills not looks........

Other than sly, that is tattoos and piercings, I think the general business world is okay provided that they're not visible or in a few cases that the position doesn't require general interaction with the general public.  The value judgment they're making is probably more about the potential of adverse effects on the purpose of the business be it service or general retail sales.  They also have restrictions on beards in many instances, goatees and staches, neatly trimmed are generally acceptable, full beards and long beards are less acceptable.  It's hard to say if they're bigoted, but they are concerned that their customer or client base will be put off by visible tattoos and piercings to the point it will affect their cash flow.  The other factor is the kind of business, some such as general IT, etc. are much more relaxed than, say retail sales or professional services.  But generally in the States employment is "at will" so they have the right to "discriminate" unless it's a legally protected class.  I don't think Congress or any of the States will act to make people who have piercings and tattoos a protected class anytime in the near future.  It's just the way it is.

Good solid reasoning here and I agree....... but I'd rather have the guy with the ring in his nose and a tattoo on his forehead that knows what he's doing fix my refrigerator ....than the clean cut looking guy that can't do squat because he's too busy staring at my wife's ass over his toolbox.

Having a strong city accent, I've dealt with this sh*t my whole life. You should see the looks on people's faces when they ask me what I do for a living and I reply, " I design printed circuit boards that help spacecraft fly thru the Universe, that help weapons systems protect our country, and that help operate the highest tech medical inventions today."

Their response is usually........ "Oh, what's a printed circuit board".

Judge not..... (you know the rest)

[D.A.L.U.I.]

I'd rather have the guy with the ring in his nose and a tattoo on his forehead that knows what he's doing fix my refrigerator ....than the clean cut looking guy that can't do squat because he's too busy staring at my wife's ass over his toolbox.

I'm results oriented too, but if there ever was an unprotected minority, that's it!

Having a strong city accent, I've dealt with this sh*t my whole life.

Never noticed the accent frankly, but then you were deep in Bayou Country and it had probably gone away for a while.

[Mikekoz13]

I'd rather have the guy with the ring in his nose and a tattoo on his forehead that knows what he's doing fix my refrigerator ....than the clean cut looking guy that can't do squat because he's too busy staring at my wife's ass over his toolbox.

I'm results oriented too, but if there ever was an unprotected minority, that's it!

Having a strong city accent, I've dealt with this sh*t my whole life.

Never noticed the accent frankly, but then you were deep in Bayou Country and it had probably gone away for a while.

I've lived in Pa. for 15 years and I still get asked "Where's that accent from?".

[D.A.L.U.I.]

I've lived in Pa. for 15 years and I still get asked "Where's that accent from?".

Accents are funny, but try coming from New Orleans, they keep thinking you're from Brooklyn!  And the movie people keep giving fake Southern accents to NO characters--it's a hoot, not only obviously fake, but nothing to do with our accent. 

[Razor X]

Shaved heads are in  - -and I have two guys working for me with shaved heads  - three including me  - - - -long hair  -piercings -  tattoos and earings are not the thing here  - -IBM will not even look at you  - - - - - SLY BALD - no problem

Well I'm glad that I don't work for such a bigoted company. It's about skills not looks........

IT guys have a lot more leeway.  I can spot them a mile away at work because they're generally the only ones with pierced ears, long beards and visible tats.   You're right, it should be about skills and not looks.  I don't know why there's a different standard, even within the same company, but in a lot of professions no one will even look at you if your appearance is anything less than "mainstream."  But there seems to be no such bias against shaved heads, thankfully.