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The Astron Road Show
Astron Solutions will not be participating in any trade shows until 2009. However, we will be active on the road giving presentations through the end of 2008!

On November 19th, National Director Michael Maciekowich will be presenting to PMA (NY State Association of ARCs) on November 19th. The meeting will be held in Schenectady, NY. Mike’s presentation is “Uniting Career Paths and Succession Planning: Strategic Use in Employee Retention for Non-Profits.” Need more information or have any questions about this presentation? E-mail here.

We hope to see you there!

Election Day!
Astron Solutions wants to remind all our readers that today is Election Day. Go out there and make your voice heard!

iShuffle
This edition on the iShuffle, we got a remix from Marketing Specialist Stephen A. Lella. This time around, Steve’s tastes are very focused, to put it nicely.

- A Guy Named Sid, Part III by Spock’s Beard
- The Day That Never Comes by Metallica
- Shelter by Big City Rock
- Grace by Apocalyptic
- She’s Got a Boyfriend Now by Bowling for Soup
- In the Dragon’s Den by Symphony X
- All Nightmare Long by Metallica
- That Was Just Your Life by Metallica
- A Winter’s Dream – Prelude Part I by Symphony X
- The Serpent’s Kiss by Symphony X

Favorite: Out of this batch of tunes, I think my favorite songs boil down to two: All Nightmare Long and The Serpent’s Kiss. Both of those songs rock very hard and are written very well, especially the Metallica song. It weaves a complex, but very smooth flowing song; incredible fun. Also, I feel that this song is also singer James Hetfield’s best work in years.

Least Favorite: The least favorite from this batch is probably A Winter’s Dream. It’s a bit of a slower piece, and as the title says, it’s a prelude to another song. The track probably clocks in less than 2 minutes, and is really nothing more than this spacey, atmospheric soundscape.

Seen live: I have seen Metallica, Big City Rock, and Symphony X live. Metallica puts on an amazing performance despite their age. Big City Rock is an emerging band from southern California, and I saw them live while I was in college about two years ago. It was a very energetic show, and they covered U2 amazingly. I got the chance to meet them after the show and talk guitar gear with their guitarist. Great bunch of guys – I hope they make the big time! Symphony X is a local phenomenon in my home state of New Jersey. Every time I’ve seen them, the show has been nothing short of amazing. Probably THE best front man I’ve seen live, and one of the most energetic and non-stop shows you can find.



Reader’s Response: What are Typical Policies Regarding Female Employees with Tattoos and Body Piercings?
After this summer’s Astronology article on Facial Hair in the Workplace, a reader inquired about policies regarding female employees with body piercing and tattoos. In our research, we found that the literature on the topic does not distinguish between male and female employees, as both can have body art.

As organizations continue to network across cultures, the issue of body art continues to be a topic for discussion. Some people believe that such self-expression should not be put on display while at work. Others believe that not regulating the body art issue will give the work environment a welcoming and diverse feel, leading to an increase in organizational productivity and diversity. Regardless of one’s personal beliefs on the issue, prudent organizations will handle the matter both professionally and fairly.

Why are Tattoos and Body Piercing an Issue?

Not too long ago, the topic of tattoos and body piercing in the workplace was unheard of. The type of people that were thought to have tattoos ostensibly did not work in corporate offices or professional organizations. However, as time has passed, body art in its many forms have been picked up by a variety of people, as evidenced by this article from Salary.com. Even after tattoos became more acceptable, for some time those who had a tattoo or unique body piercing would cover them while at work.

As organizations globalize, however, many employees have found themselves working shoulder-to-shoulder with co-workers who belong to cultures and religious organizations that have ties to and practices regarding personal tattooing and piercing. Further, more workers are choosing to express themselves artistically through tattooing and body piercing. However, there are employees who continue to believe that such displays of individual expression are unprofessional.

How does this affect the work environment? Take into consideration, if an organization has an open policy on tattoos and piercings. What if one employee finds a fellow co-worker’s markings offensive? At first, there may be friction between the two employees. This friction may then spread to the other employees. The ending result could be a human resources representative’s worst nightmare…employee turnover and damaged morale. Take a second example: What if during an interview for a highly critical position one finds that the perfect candidate possesses a visible tattoo? As a recruiter, do you dismiss the candidate?

How can These Situations be Handled?

Clearly, sensitivity is needed in order to handle the issue of body art within the workplace. It is understandable if an organization may want or require a strict dress code due to customer interaction or employee safety needs. Since employees represent an organization, a professional image may be desired. When an organization decides to create or revise their dress code, tattoos and body piercing may be permissible. The deciding factor is the source: are these markings part of a deeply held religious belief? Is their content offensive? How frequently will this employee find themselves representing the company? What representation does the organization want to display to its customers and its employees? Making sure the policy addresses such issues should help in handling employees that may already possess or are considering getting some form of body art. It also allows possible candidates to get an understanding of what may be expected of them if they decide to join the organization.

In order to create or update a dress code policy, it is recommended that you obtain legal consultation and consult the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Take a look at other organizations’ dress code policies as examples to help in properly crafting one for your organization.

There is a delicate balance between allowing employees to freely engage in self-expression and upholding a professional organization reputation. However, it is possible to respect employee cultural and/or religious belief through both sensitivity and proper documentation. Being aware of the options one has in handling employee use of body art is an excellent first step in handling the topic within one’s own organization. It is also equally important to apply the policy to all workers to ensure a fair and equitable workplace for everyone.



Reader Poll Archive
Wonder what your fellow readers think about critical HR topics? Is your organization unique from or similar to others?
Click here to view the results of our past polls!



Coming next time in Astronology
Thanksgiving edition!
Astron Road Show
iShuffle
Fact or Fiction?



Have a Question?
If you have a topic you would like addressed in Astronology, or some feedback on a past article, don't hesitate to tell us! Simply reply to this e-mail. See your question answered, or comments addressed, in an upcoming issue of Astronology.

Looking for a top-notch presenter for your human resource organization's meeting? Both Jennifer Loftus and Michael Maciekowich present highly-rated sessions on a variety of compensation and employee retention issues. For more information, send an e-mail to info@astronsolutions.com.

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Copyright 2008, Astron Solutions, LLC

ISSN Number 1549-0467