Would You Do This?

Stepping away from tales of courage for a moment, this falls into another category, I’ll let you decide which.

I saw a story in HRExecutive about people getting tattoos of their company logo. Now I’m not one for tattoos in the first place, but really? In this day and age I question the wisdom of getting any company’s logo permanently etched on my body. Maybe I’ve counseled too many people who’ve been told their positions have been eliminated but haven’t these people heard that the days of lifetime employment are over?

In the article it does say getting the ink is not mandatory or even necessarily encouraged. But there are monetary incentives for doing it at one company. At another the people feel that showing their commitment enhances the likelihood that they’ll be with that company for the long haul.

I can’t say what the managers at those companies are thinking, but I doubt that having the company logo on your body would persuade me to keep you if your performance didn’t merit it.

So please weigh in on what you’d do. Would you consider getting branded with your company’s logo? Is doing this a savvy strategy to keep your job or close to crazy in the current business environment? I’m looking forward to reading your opinion.

Only the best,
Ron

You can also cut and paste this URL into your browser if the link above doesn’t work. http://www.hreonline.com/HRE/view/story.jhtml?id=534357248&ss=Indelible+commitment

7 thoughts on “Would You Do This?

  1. The notion of a company “encouraging” the permanent branding of its employees seems rather Orwellian.

    Tattoos of sports team are quite prevalent, and team owners/management may encourage it, but there are no financial consequences for non-participation. What happens in those workplaces?

    We might view those companies that pay employees to do this as simply using their advertising dollars on a different kind of billboard.

    On the other hand, how companies “encourage” employees to do this, and the consequences for those that do not opt to brand themselves, is the critical question.

  2. This subject could be a great way to help the company and boost you up the ladder. On the other hand it could get you fired.

    Today tattoos can be removed by laser with no after signs that it was there at all.

    If you’re a person that gets in trouble, don’t get get it.

    If you’re a loyal employee and not a problem, get it with your HR’s approval.

    The big question, no I wouldn’t get it. I hate needles.

    • It isn’t true that tattoos can be removed without “with no after signs that it was there at all.”

      It may be possible to remove the ink but one may be left with scarring which may or may not be significant.

  3. Wow! That’s a new level of commitment, and not one that I think should ever be encouraged regardless of your thoughts on tattoos in general. I firmly believe that a company would be no more committed to a person for branding themselves than an un-branded employee. It’s a shame to offer a monetary benefit for doing this, because it will give the employee an edge to take the ink plunge, plus give them a false sense of job security.
    …. But to each their own, and if one feels thus compelled to become their company’s free form of advertisement, I hope it’s at least a good looking tattoo! 🙂
    Is there a list of companies that are offering the “tat” incentive?

  4. Gross me out. It’s the end of civilization to the heights. Really? People stay at jobs about 2 minutes these days before they leave or are ousted. Not to mention my personal ill feelings about marring one’s body with hideous tatoos. This is what America values? Sad.

  5. What happens when the company changes its logo, as Microsoft and many others have done? You’re stuck with an old, outdated, brand on your body! But someone who makes this type of decision kind of deserves it.

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