Chandra Law Logo

May I legally be fired for having tattoos or piercings?

In short and in general, yes.

Employment-at-will is a legal doctrine under which an employer can terminate an employee for any reason, or no reason at all, without warning, if the reason is not illegal. This principle prevails in most American states, including Ohio.

Anti-discrimination laws safeguard as protected only certain, defined characteristics and statuses. These typically include race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, and sometimes LGBTQ+ status. Employment decisions based on some of these characteristics are illegal under various federal laws, like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act; and state laws like the Ohio Civil Rights Act.

Piercing and tattoos are not considered protected statuses under federal and state employment and discrimination laws. Employers are generally free to establish dress codes and appearance policies that include restrictions on visible piercings and tattoos, if these policies are applied uniformly and do not discriminate against protected statuses.

There might be exceptions of tattoos or piercings are part of some bona fide, provable, religious-belief system that doesn’t interfere with employment. But generally, there is no protection.

There is at least an argument that a government employer (as opposed to a private one) that discriminates on the basis of tatoos and piercings is interfering with public employees' private free-speech rights, but the argument would be difficult.

Regardless, we do not handle such cases.


Related Practice Areas
Constitutional LawEmployment DiscriminationEmployment RetaliationFirst Amendment

Making the right choice in legal representation can make the difference in whether you achieve a result that protects your legal rights and best interests.

Tell Us About Your Case