Perhaps the tattoo was something sexual or derogatory. Although it was more likely the customer was just being an asshole. :P

I know a waiter who got a swastika tattooed on his hand. His first table the next day was 2 old Jewish women looking at pictures from ones trip to certain German camps she stayed at in her youth. She had a tattoo too. He didn't keep his job long.

I have a moronic friend like that... He desperately needed a job, so when he applied at Walmart, I told him to put me down as a reference and actually told one of my managers he's a good worker... He came to the interview in jeans and a cut off t-shift , his (new) swastika tattoo highly visible. Needless to say, he didn't get the job and I will NEVER let anyone put me as a reference ever again unless I'm absolutely sure they're not a complete moron.

Yeah that's probably a good thing. Who are all these ppl getting swastika tats and Wtf is wrong with them?

Everyone has the right to get as inked as they want. Likewise, every company or employer has the right to hire or not hire someone for any reason they'd like. OP's boss or employer had every right to enforce the company's policy of no visible tattoos (assuming they have that policy.) The issue with the FML is that OP's tattoo is not on their face, and most likely not very visible considering it's behind OP's ear. The customer that complained was just being a jerk.

Thank you 45! 55 - if that's company policy than OP should have it covered already. As she didn't, I'll assume for now that it isn't. Meaning if the boss knew about it, which they should, and hired her anyway, they have basically accepted it and should've stuck up for her. Either 1) it's okay and should be seen all the time, 2) it's not okay and should be covered or 3) it's not okay and OP shouldn't have been hired. The boss should not pick and choose when it's suits them.

People with tattoos and piercings are not a group protected by EOE.

That's all fine and dandy, except that it's illegal nowadays to turn somebody down for employment based on the fact that they're tattooed.

Yes they can. They aren't protected under EOE/AA laws, and if a business finds their tattoos unprofessional, guess what? They won't get hired. Peoples stupidity for horrible placement tattoos or just bad artwork in general isn't something that is, should be, or ever will protected.

60, just because it's policy doesn't mean OP follows it. I have several coworkers who don't cover their tattoos or remove their piercings because our store manager doesn't care. But you better believe when the area manager comes through, suddenly the long sleeve shirts are broken out and the spacers are put in.

97 That's fair enough, but if that's the case here then OP can hardly complain that they got told off and had to cover it can they? So either that's not the case or OP completely deserved it. I don't have a problem with tattoos myself but if you knowingly break the rules you gotta accept the consequences.

Waldo!

Or maybe a Waldo tattoo? That'd be kinda funny.

THANK YOU. I have several tattoos myself, and knew that visible ones would affect whether I would be hired or not. So while I show my tattoos off as often as possible, even in a t shirt and shorts, you'd never know I had any, much less that I have eight.