Mayo to allow visible body art, with some exceptions

Featured on postbulletin.com

Many Mayo Clinic doctors, nurses and other employees will be free to roll up their sleeves and show their ink in 2018 with a new policy allowing tattoos to be visible.

Mayo Clinic is loosening up its "Dress and Decorum Policy." Currently, employees with tattoos are supposed to keep them covered at work or face discipline.

That will change on Jan. 1.

"Tattoos may be visible if the images or words do not convey violence, discrimination, profanity or sexually explicit content. Tattoos containing such messages must be covered with bandages, clothing, or cosmetics. Mayo Clinic reserves the right to judge the appearance of visible tattoos," according to the new version of the policy.

Mayo Clinic has long held strict rules about employee appearance and clothing. In 2015, it changed a long-standing rule requiring female employees to wear pantyhose. That change was widely welcomed by women working during hot summer days at Mayo Clinic.

While no Mayo Clinic employees with tattoos felt comfortable speaking on the record about the change, Rochester tattoo artists say it is a good thing for their many customers who work at the clinic.

"I guarantee that there's a lot of Mayo Clinic employees that are going to be happy about this," said tattoo artist Matt Holt, who owns Sacred Heart Studio. "It's really nice that they are finally loosening the reins and letting people do what they want to do."

However, this change doesn't mean Mayo Clinic employees will be wearing flip-flops, dying their hair or getting multiple piercings. And don't expect any "casual Fridays."

From Mayo Clinic's perspective, the basis of the policy remains as it always has been.

"While aspects of the policy are changing, employees are still expected to project a professional appearance and demeanor," Mayo spokeswoman Kelley Luckstein said by email this week.

She added that, "The professional appearance and conduct of our employees are important parts of the Mayo Clinic experience for patients, their families and visitors in clinical and nonclinical areas. Dress and decorum guidelines help Mayo Clinic employees understand expectations concerning appearance and conduct, to ensure that our patients feel welcome, respected, comfortable and safe."

Click here to read the full article.