BA and Tattoos
 

Following on from one of my daughters interview with BA a week or so ago I enclose a copy of the letter of complaint that she wrote which gives an insight into the attitude that still pervades BA . Somehow they still seem to think that nobody is good enough for them.Obviously I am a disgruntled parent that thinks his kids can do no wrong but this now gives me two reasons for disliking Willie Walsh- the other is the destruction of the GA community by persuading the CAA to increase the fees to small operators and pilots alike to satisfy the whims of BA

Dear Sir,
I would hereby like to lodge a complaint about the treatment I received on Monday 8th July during an assessment day for Mandarin language speaking cabin crew. On Friday 12th July I briefly raised my concerns in a follow-up call with a member of the BA team, but I feel it both important and necessary to explain the full events and express my opinions on the matter.
At the very beginning of the day I was taken for the height and reach test. Before completing the test I was asked about any tattoos, to which I replied positively that I did have one. I was then asked where it was, responding that it was on the nape of my neck. The BA staff member asking these questions told me that she would have to take a look at it, so I was escorted into a separate room where I was instantly told that I would be sent home. She did not look at the tattoo, rather she instantly judged me for having one, stating that I should try a different company that didn’t have such high standards. This comment I found to be very belittling and I felt unfairly targeted. This staff member informed me that my only option would be to spend lots of money getting the tattoo removed and then reapply another time. She was unaware of the circumstances in which I had the tattoo done, and did not seem to care the reasons for it. According to her, this tattoo symbolised my low standards that were not good enough for British Airways.
I was made thoroughly aware that company policy meant I could not progress with the assessment day, and I completely accept this; however I do not feel that the situation was dealt with appropriately. Furthermore, I feel it necessary to question what is meant by ‘visible’ tattoos. This appeared in the initial application stage and having looked at the uniform worn by BA cabin crew I deemed my tattoo not to be ‘visible’, owing to the fact that staff members wear neck ties and high collared shirts. For this reason I continued with the application. When I was sent home I made the interviewer aware of my understanding of the term ‘visible’. The response was that when I moved my neck or back the tattoo might come on show, however, this was not tested. The tattoo could also apparently be seen through the shirt (again, this was not checked).
In my opinion, a ‘visible’ tattoo is not one that can be seen through clothing, it is one that is on an area of the body that cannot be covered by clothing. It would be my suggestion that this be clarified through the online application system so that future applicants do not travel to Heathrow for an interview only to be sent home 5 minutes later.
Of course I am upset that my application could not progress for this job. I speak 4 languages fluently and have 6 years of customer service experience under my belt, not to mention a wealth of travel experience as well as helicopter pilot training. I believe that I could have done extremely well in this role, and feel saddened that, because of a tattoo, I can’t bring any of my skills to your company. At the same time, I feel that a company that judges me to have low standards because of a tattoo is not a company worth working for. I sincerely hope that changes are made to avoid other applicants ending up in this same position.
I would greatly appreciate a response to this letter so that I know your company has been made aware of my complaints and is addressing the aforementioned issues.

So all you cabin crew wannabes out there be aware that if you are less than perfect in the eyes of BA they will tell you and maybe shatter your dreams in the process

It's a fair point. I wouldn't employ anyone who had a tattoo that was remotely visible. Just as I wouldn't employ anyone who had facial piercings.

BA have an image that they wish to project & they are entitled to do so. I think some of the US majors, Gulf & Asian carriers say the same.

Sorry but tattoos on the neck have no place in the professional world. It's not a professional look.

There are also cultures where the view on tattoos is, shall we say, significantly less relaxed than in western european countries and the US. I don't mean to single out Japan but take this article as an example:

The view of tattoos in Japanese society - The Japan Daily Press

As the cabin is a highly multicultural environment I can see how BA would prefer to hire CC without tattoos.

BA and Tattoos
 

I wonder in which Century I'm living....
If you judge people how they look, your close to judge by race or religion.
Look for the human inside, not for the paintings outside!

Hi Nicolas,

It must be extremely disappointing. Unfortunately though, that is the reality of the airline industry. It's extremely harsh with grooming standards and that is universal.

Don't give up though, there are a lot of airlines with LHR bases so hopefully someone will take him. :) Good luck.

Exactly!

Errr - wasn't it a girl?

''I wonder in which Century I'm living....
If you judge people how they look, your close to judge by race or religion.
Look for the human inside, not for the paintings outside!''

What infantile rubbish! Of course people judge by looks, race, religion and a whole host of other cues. If you have shrapnel through your eyebrow and barbed-wire tattoos around your arm, you are likely to sneer derisively at the man with a conservative haircut in flannels, brogues and jacket, not so?

It is entirely B.A.'s prerogative to maintain high standards.

I would imagine that there is a little more to this rejection than just the positioning of the tattoo.
BA have a large number of mixed fleet crew who have tattoos which many would consider visible. Numerous crew have tattoos on their wrists, these are covered by plasters. Others have tattoos on their ankles, which again are either covered by plasters, or in some cases a heavy concealer. Either these individuals lied on their cv's or BA are very inconsistent in their requirements.

Waah waaah waaah

Self inflicted injury I'm afraid.

Oh Dear! The Princess is throwing a hissy fit because somebody said "No". I'll alert the media

I think you'll find that all airlines have very strict policies on tatoos. Mine does but as long as you can cover it up whilst on duty, it's fine.

I think your mistake was admitting you had some (helicopter) pilot training. Tattoos can be forgiven :p

Mate of mine had a butterfly on his left forearm...only showed when he opened the throttles on take off whilst wearing a short sleeved shirt...skipper went bananas and he had to wear a plaster....load of hypocrites...and this was in 1973.
Then we had a co pilot whose face had been badly burned in ww2... Now that was allowed...as was having haircuts that looked as though we had just escaped from Wormwood scrubs...

Fully with BA on this - I'd be pretty appalled to be served by cabin crew with tattoos. It comes into the same category as chewing gum, or smoking.

A most useful thread for anyone needing to deter their children with career aspirations from having tattoos.

In the meantime if I had any cash lying around I may give this lot a punt!;

Cynosure to Host Second-Quarter 2013 Financial Results Conference Call on July 31 -- WESTFORD, Mass., July 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

perhaps devote more energy in telling your kids why visible and facial tattoos are going to probably inhibit their careers one day...espesh a girl!

i am 100pc agreed = Sorry but tattoos on the neck or anywhere visible have no place in the professional world. It's not a professional look. nor are facial piercings.

i would never continue an interview with anyone that pitched up for a job with the suchlike...i had a guy arrive with flip flops on one day:rolleyes:

some of old BOAC Stewards off the 'ships and the navy' had tattoos on their arms but kept them covered up with long sleeve shirts/jackets

I should bloody well hope so too! A man who was disfigured in the line of duty to his country, is an entirely different proposition to some "look at me" self-mutilation.
I dissuaded my daughter from the worst excesses of this "art" form....she went ahead in her young teens and had her ears pierced (haven't seen her wear earrings in 10 years!!! ) likewise, ISTR a very small, unobtrusive tattoo and maybe a navel piercing......she grew up and realised that rebellious non -conformity was not conducive to progress within the "conforming" world.....and they were the movers, shakers and money-people,.....not the "rebels"

Yes, I was a long-haired ,bearded hippy scruff in the 60's....but trimmed and tidied when it was pointed out that my image was a reflection of my employer's standards....went on to suit/tie/expense-account /company car/phone paid......

reckon it was a good exchange. :)

As to the OP's daughter....she should have countered with ...."not that you have seen, so if I have one, it can't be very noticeable, can it? "

I concur with others,- there are plenty of candidates for the job, as an employer, I choose the one who ticks the most boxes...and yes...."tramp-stamp" is not appropriate to BA image.

So, and just a thought - are there any rules forbidding BA's CC from having tattoos done AFTER they've been employed and have become established? I'm thinking perhaps a year or three down the line....

plenty of straight and gay muscle boys i know that fly not just with BA that have whopping great tattoos over their shoulder or down their towards their plonker but no one seems to mind...cant be seen can it - :)with uniform on

they are not visible unlike OP daughter with one on her neck