Tattoo problems in culinary school?

[MartinK]

I am enrolled to start culinary studies in Sydney ,Australia in July. I am from Los Angeles and I have heard of students having problems with teachers and culinary schools in regards to being tattoo'd. I have full sleeved arm tattoos and some on my hands. What is the deal with teachers and schools having such a problem with this? As so many chefs have multiple tattoos. I can understand if i was working on a buffett line at a wedding. But for school... Give me a break. You would think they would just be happy with the high tuition they just got. Any input on this?

[Anneke]

It would make no difference in my hiring practices, so I don't see why an instructor should make a big deal of this either. It's one thing if you are a lawyer with a pierced tongue/eybrow, but a chef?

Hold on: you don't have obscenities tatooed on your eye lids, do you?

[foodpump]

Big deal, very big deal. The student represents the school, and students usually find jobs in the hospitality industry.

I don't have a problem with tatoos that are covered , but on exposed areas--hands, face, neck, I have a large problem. Behind the line is one thing, but when serving customers, tattoos have a nasty habit of turning customers off, and turned off customers don't come back and don't say why they don't come back. Money and reputation lost for a splotch of ink that will look like cra* on that person's body in 20 or so years. For fun and edification go to your local old folk's home-- or give your elderly parent a bath and see what a 60 yr old tatoo looks like on a 80 yr old body. But I digress...

The second problem is that tatoos are designed for one, and only one thing--to attract attention. Why does this person want to attract attention to his hands/face/neck?

[adamm]

alot of schools want to practice the highest of profesionlism. Im pretty sure the rule at my school was girls werent even allowed to wear ear rings in the kitchens even studs. schools have an image they want to maintain. I know of a 5 star resort that took externs from my school and they didnt want people of have tatoos where you could see them. you may never work at one of those places but rules are rules.

[RAS1187]

While I might argue about the enforcement of professional standards at the big name schools, it appears this is something they take seriously.

As a student, you are expected to follow the same levels of professionalism as an employer would have. For the hospitality industry, it has generally been deemed that visible tattoos are not professional.

Essentially its simple, foillow the rules, or don't go. Sounds like a bad deal, but I don't make the rules.

[bughut]

Whats the big deal. It's not a hygene issue. I can see how some folk lined up at a buffet might be offended, but it's not going to stop them eating is it? I could understand if your line looked like a bunch of tattoo'd hairy greasers, but anyway i'm biased. My 2 chef sons are well tattooed. And theyre damned good at what they do.
I'm booked myself for a wee tribal on the wrist tomorrow (read today AArgh)
Like i say, whats the big deal?

[RSteve]

Originally Posted by bughut

I can see how some folk lined up at a buffet might be offended, but it's not going to stop them eating is it?

Yes, for some, it will stop them.

[Anneke]

So what are you going to do: refuse them admission? Our professional uniform covers everything from the neck down except the hands. Beyond that, any tatoos showing (face/neck) is their own mistake they'll have to live with.

I don't see it as a big deal as long as everything is clean and piercings are removed. Frankly I'm outrage at the lack of hygiene of the average cook much more than their tatoos...

Lynn Crawford is a great chef, currently the exec chef of the 4 Seasons in NY. She's done lots of television up in Canada, was on Iron Chef. She has a couple of large, odd-looking tats in the palms of her hands (ouch!). But the rest of her looks so professional, I can't imagine anyone objecting to her appearance and calling her unprofessional.

[remie]

I think for some it would really matter along with the hygiene of the person. Culinary is all about cleanliness and order. If you have tattoos already then they can't do anything about it anymore, right?? You just have to make sure that you will prove to them that your not all "dirty" you know and stuff like that.

[tessa]

generally , i have two tattoos but they are not visible generally and i also have a nose peircing , which i wear a dainty little stud thats discreet and two peircings in my ear lobes, which i wear studs and sleepers with no problems
there is a japanese guy in another class and when we are not in chef whites we are in a white shirt black pants, black vest black tie uniform, its been very warm here at the moment and he wears short sleeved shirts and he has very colourful tattoos down to his wrists, He doesnt seem to have been told off about them as he still wears short sleeves.
I think it would really depend on what the tattoos are and if they contain bad language or not. If the school has a prob with you having tattooed hands what about wearing disposable gloves when you work

Tattoos on your hands can give a bad impression sometimes, in our conservative industry , people might think it was crime related in some way maybe , but i dont genereally see any kinds of probs with tattoos normally

good luck with your school

[foodpump]

The whole thingee about tattoos is not what you think or feel about them, it's what your employer thinks about them. Actually, it's what your employer's customers think about them.

This topic has come up on other sites, most noteably about a young man with facial tattoos. He had excellent skills and attitude and all that, but it was patiently explained to him that he would experience some difficulty in finding the job he wanted.

This is not illegal, not to hire a person with tattoos. The tattoo-ee was not born with them, wasn't tattooed at birth or tattooed with a gun pointed to his/her head, it was a clear and conscious decision on his/her behalf, and only they can take the responsibility for this decision.

Keep it covered up and know one knows are cares. When it is visibile on your face/hands/neck most employers will want to know why you want to display this, and what kind of problems they can anticipate from you.

Like I said before, tattoos are desiged for one, and only one thing: To attract attention.

[shakeandbake]

The OP is not debating whether or not kitchen staff can be tattooed, his/her issue is with schools. I agree each employer has the right to staff as they see fit, but I don't think a school should discriminate and deny enrollment to a student based on their tattoos...unless they contain content or words that are socially unacceptable/offensive. I'm assuming schools would include tattoo discussion as part of the training, since it obviously can limit some employment opportunity.

I think folks who are heavily tattooed already have come to terms with the employment issue. I have tattoos and I'm planning more.

[andy009g]

Originally Posted by MartinK

I am enrolled to start culinary studies in Sydney ,Australia in July. I am from Los Angeles and I have heard of students having problems with teachers and culinary schools in regards to being tattoo'd. I have full sleeved arm tattoos and some on my hands. What is the deal with teachers and schools having such a problem with this? As so many chefs have multiple tattoos. I can understand if i was working on a buffett line at a wedding. But for school... Give me a break. You would think they would just be happy with the high tuition they just got. Any input on this?

You shouldn't have any problems with tatoos, if you have some hide them

[RAS1187]

The school makes the rules and enforces them. That's pretty much the bottom line. Just as employers can be picky about their applicants, schools can be too (at least for now). I have been put in situations where I did not agree with the rules, but pretty much I either had to follow along or choose to go elsewhere.

[skaiwalker]

The rule are the rule.. we cant ignore them.