The tattoo lover, who currently makes a living through Uber Eats and social media platforms, says she ‘absolutely’ believes she was denied the role because of her tattoos.
“TJ Maxx did not say this to me – that’s just what a lot of the comments on my video say,” she added. “People are being extremely hateful on my TikTok, saying I should work at a circus or Halloween stores.”
Many people have taken to the comments and suggested Putnam’s tattoos may be why she’s struggling to find employment.
One person writes: “There’s tattoo… and then there’s TATTOOS.”
Another adds: “It is the type of tattoos and the placement of them.”
A third viewer remarks: “There’s a reason why tattoo artists refer to face tattoos as career enders.”
“I love tattoos. I have a lot of them. All are able to be hidden for work purposes,” somebody else shares.
In an interview with IGV, Putnam says the backlash from her viral TikTok video has solidified her decision to avoid customer service roles altogether.
She asserts: “At this point, I do not care.”
Putnam, who is estimated to have spent over $10,000 on her inkings, advises others to ‘think hard about what kind of tattoos you want.’
“Don’t get face or neck tattoos if you want to work in the corporate world!” she warns.
A copy of the TJ Maxx dress code has been shared on Reddit – there’s no mention of tattoos or piercings.
The brand’s Global Code of Conduct guide states it is against basing ’employment-related decisions’ on any ‘status protected under applicable law.’
Whether or not tattoos can have an impact on job offers remains a divisive topic.
Career coach Claire Brown tells the Metro: “The placement and content of tattoos is important to consider as it can impact other’s perceptions and first impressions of you.
“Often, the larger, more visible tattoos on the face, neck, hands, and arms and those with any images considered to be more graphic, scary or offensive in nature may not be well received.”
