Can someone be racist against you for having tattoos when trying to get a job?

My friend has ink on both arms and neck with some simple earrings. He said he was denied getting a waiters job and they treated him bad. They even brought up the fact he had tattoos! He's white too. Can a employer be racist against your tattoos? Is there a way of reporting them or something? Aren't they law against skin color racism?

Asked By: RJ - 6/28/2011
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
I think you don't quite understand what "race" is.
Answered By: Jeff Muscato - 6/28/2011
Additional Answers (9)
Since tattoos are a personal choice and have absolutely nothing to do with race, no.
Answered By: Two Fingered Salute - 6/28/2011
There are laws against skin color racism. But ink is not natural skin color it's artificial pigmentation that an employer may chose to allow or nit allow. Your friend didn't have to get them.
Answered By: Smartone13 - 6/28/2011
Firstly its not racism its discrimination and they have the right to refuse for having tattoos because they can portray an aggressive image which is not a good thing for a waiter.
Answered By: Rob Nelson - 6/28/2011
I think you need to learn the definition of racism. However, they could be discriminating. A lot of employers dont want employees having tattoo's, it technically is illegal but if you take any legal action there will most likely no consequences for the business.
Answered By: Mara - 6/28/2011
Being "racist" means not providing someone with a service or committing hateful crimes or saying hurtful things to someone because of their RACE. Hence, racism. Meaning, someone can be racist to ANY race, not JUST black people, or jewish people, or hispanics. But people can be racist against asians, hindus, and yes... More
Answered By: :D - 6/28/2011
Most of the time employers want you to look "presentable" by their guidelines and if you are trying to become a waiter or waitress, they pick out certain things they want you to have because different places like to have a family atmosphere. So they usually put people that don't go by their guide lines in the kitchen... More
Answered By: Beth - 6/28/2011
That isn't being racist. That's protecting the image of the business. Everyone working at a business who interacts with the customers represents the image of that business. If he was applying at a biker bar it might be different but a family oriented business or one that wants to uphold an image of cleanliness and... More
Answered By: Walter - 6/28/2011
Racism, no. Tattoos are not a "race". That being said, it seems silly not to hire someone because of them. Having tattoos doesn't make you less competent.
Answered By: Little Birdie - 6/29/2011
lol tattooed people aren't a race. There's no law against it, some people don't like people with tattoos because they are considered to be aggressive and immature, these people are prejudiced, not racists. Racists are people who discriminate on the basis of race and not because of tattoo.
Answered By: Vanessa Doofenshmirtz - 6/29/2011
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