Are Piercings Still Shunned In The Workplace?

The idea that piercings are inherently unprofessional feels increasingly outdated, yet it still lingers in many workplaces. Often unspoken, rarely written down, but quietly enforced through looks, comments, or “suggestions”.

The question isn’t really whether piercings are acceptable anymore. It’s which piercings, how they’re styled, and who gets to decide.

Corporate used to mean uniformity. Neutral colours. Minimal personal markers. Today, corporate environments are more diverse, more human, and more visible than ever before. People are encouraged to bring their “whole self” to work, at least in theory.

In practice, piercings challenge that promise.

What I see work best is intention. A small nostril stud, a neat helix, a single lobe with a subtle diamond. These don’t read as disruptive. They read as considered. They sit comfortably alongside tailored clothing, clean lines, and professional posture.

The friction tends to arise not from the piercing itself, but from assumptions attached to it. Piercings still carry outdated stereotypes that have little to do with competence, intelligence, or reliability.

Interestingly, when jewellery is well chosen, most people stop seeing the piercing altogether. It becomes part of the face, not a statement competing for attention.

The workplace hasn’t fully caught up with that reality yet. But it’s closer than it was. And every quietly confident professional wearing their piercings well nudges it further forward.