[Tiva]

Originally Posted by Coda

I'm not saying I necessarily agree with it, but I can explain exactly why companies do that:

The answer is that companies don't WANT their employees to express themselves. The employee's job is to express the company. To the customers, the employees are the face of the company. If a customer would be uncomfortable interacting with an employee, that customer is uncomfortable interacting with the company.

Companies are very risk-averse. Every risk has a possibility to lose money. Some risks are worth it, because success means earning more money. Other risks are deemed not worth it, because success won't bring in more money or because success is too unlikely. As a result, companies enforce dress codes, because unusual dress is unlikely to earn more money but runs the risk of alienating potential customers.

Because companies are risk-averse, they also tend to be conservative. Not conservative in the political sense (although that is often also true) but in the sense of being slow to accept change. Things that seem safe -- established patterns that have worked well for a long time -- don't seem like a good idea to modify.

Companies ARE gradually learning that it's not always a bad idea to allow employees more freedom, especially in positions that don't interact with customers directly. But it still IS true that companies that serve older people -- that is, people who are more likely to have a problem with radical young people -- are going to be very nervous about looking unprofessional.

This, I use to work at a hospital, no tattoos could be seen, hair had to be natural colors, and no more than 2 piercings an ear.
While I was working I got away with 3 piercing in my left ear and my boss had a nose stud. Several coworkers had Tattoos but kept them covered during work hours. One girl came in with this fire engine red hair though and was immediately sent home and told to make it look natural or to not come back. Another one came in with a purple black color and had the same problem.
Working in Airlines now I have the same issues but cranked up even further. Cant have my roots showing because Ombre color is sloppy, I have to wear pants or tall boots to cover up the tattoo on my ankle and even if I am on an overnight sit they don't like it if you show it out of uniform.
I have friends with crazy hair and plenty of tattoos that go 'oh just do it' what is the worst that can happen. Fired, not get hired, black listed from all airlines? Yeah Uniforms suck but following the dress code lets you go under the radar.