Visible Body Modifications & Employability in Hospitality Industry: Manager vs. Customer Perspective

The present study investigates employability of individuals with visible body modifications, specifically tattoos and piercings, in hospitality industry. The study was twofold. First part of the study was a questionnaire administered to tourists in a paper-pencil format, investigating their attitudes toward tattooed service providers, as well as the level of comfort they feel while served by a person with visible body modifications. The second part of the study was a questionnaire distributed to managers involved in hiring decisions in hospitality industry through which impact of visible body modifications on their assessment of employability and personality traits of potential employees was tested. Controlling for the effect of gender, physical attractiveness, dress, body posture and facial expressions, managers were presented with a set of eight photographs they needed to evaluate in terms of employability and Big Five personality traits. The results of the customer survey suggest that customers do not mind being served by individuals with visible body modifications, feel relaxed and at ease with such a service, and overall report no negative stereotypes. Based on the managers’ survey, people with big tattoos were rated as most employable, most extroverted, open to experience, agreeable, and conscientious, with lowest scores in neuroticism. Interestingly, in terms of Big Five traits, no relation was discovered between managers’ assessment and the actual scores of the eight individuals presented in the photographs