Undercover Ink

Theresa Gallion was quoted in UT Journal on September 10, 2015. The article “Undercover Ink” discussed how nearly 40 percent of millennials have a tattoo, but many are unaware of how their ink fits (or doesn’t fit) in the professional world.

'There is no protected right to have a tattoo," said Theresa. “It isn't like being married or having a child, which are rights that are protected under the Constitution."

Theresa stated, she sees the issue come up fairly often in her client work. For example, an employee may say that a tattoo is part of his or her religion, or offer some other reason for alleging discrimination because he or she has a tattoo.

That just doesn't stand up in the legal arena, she said. "Getting a tattoo is your own, voluntary decision, and the most practical advice I can offer someone is to be thoughtful about it," she said.

"It is very hard to get rid of tattoos. Someone might be thinking, 'I don't want to work in an office anyway.' But your interests and professional life may change over time."