'Ironic': Fair Work's surprise as Dapto Leagues bans staff tattoos and piercings
November 19, 2014
Lucy Cormack
Reporter
Dapto Leagues has asked staff not to display tattoos, despite body art's huge popularity among ruby league teams, including Dpato's own.
If there is one similarity between professional rugby league players today it is their penchant for tattoos.
Body art in rugby league culture is so prominent that it featured in a decision by the Fair Work Commission this week, involving a dispute application between the Dapto Leagues Club and an employee with a lip piercing.
In August the Fair Work Commission was notified of a dispute by the Dapto Leagues Club, in which club waitress Hope Agius declined to remove a lip piercing.
For the entirety of her employment, Ms Agius had been entitled to wear the lip ring, however as of October 2013 the club changed its dress policy. While the amended policy no longer permitted Ms Agius to wear the lip ring she continued to wear it during working hours.
Several informal discussions were held with Ms Agius regarding the lip piercing, including a meeting with an organiser from the liquor and hospitality division of the United Voice union.
An additional restriction was a ban on visible body art "on the face, neck, arms or legs on front of house staff."
The club's policy states that the reason for the policy is that "it does not fit the image that Dapto Leagues Club wishes to portray and has worked hard to develop over time. It may also be offensive to some people".
It was this reasoning that Fair Work Commission deputy president Peter Sams drew attention to in his written decision.
"It strikes me as somewhat ironic that this strict approach is being adopted by a football club when one considers that probably the majority of professional footballers we see on our television every football season, are covered in tattoos ('visible body art'), including on their legs, arms, necks and even their faces," he wrote.
"This was not the case 40 years ago, when one rarely saw a tattoo, unless it was discreetly displayed by ex or existing Navy personnel or where all over body art was regarded as a curiosity, found only at the circus or amusement parks."
"Indeed, it was unheard of for women to have any tattoos at all. How times have changed," he said.
Mr Sams also noted that there was also a "hint of discrimination" in that staff with piercings were expected to remove them under the new policy, while existing staff with permanently exposed tattoos would not be subject to any discipline.
The dispute was dismissed by Mr Sams on the jurisdictional grounds that the Commission did not have the power to deal with it as it was not a matter arising under the Dapto Leagues Club Enterprise Agreement.
However he said his "musings" on tattoo culture today should not be misunderstood as a suggestion that the Club is not entitled to introduce new policies, which it considers are "in the Club's best interests".
Both Dapto Leagues Club and Ms Hope Agius have been contacted for comment.
Replies
I'll tell you what it is Kng ooN; it's gross hypocrisy. Rugby league & tatts go together like mashed potatoes and gravy.
As the Fair Work Commission deputy president Peter Sams noted;
"It strikes me as somewhat ironic that this strict approach is being adopted by a football club when one considers that probably the majority of professional footballers we see on our television every football season, are covered in tattoos ('visible body art'), including on their legs, arms, necks and even their faces,"
I wonder how the very players of Dapto rugby league (who sport tatts) feel when they enter the club? Shades of the 70's when the Roosters Russell Fairfax was banned from grand final celebrations at the leagues club because he had long hair.
I live near Dapto. The leagues club is full of bogans and dole bludgers. and their footy team is pathetic.
If the club has to accept tatts because footy players have them then what is next?
Do they have to accept a male bar worker who [fresh from taking a leak in his own mouth in front of patrons in the bathroom] thumps one of the waitresses in the head because she wasn't impressed by his arm ink that resembled the side of an old Sandman panel van? Footy players do those things.
It's a business. The owners / managers have every right to set some appearance standards and good on them for sticking to it. I've got no ink at all but plenty of mates do - every single one has their ink so that it can be covered with pants and a shirt... for work reasons. None of them have an issue with it.
This chick with the metal in her face needs to base her appearance around the clubs rules... the club does not have to base their rules around her appearance. The fact that we have her complaining and a bunch of tools known as the United Voice Union behind her is a great example of where this country has run off the rails. Get another job somewhere else if you don't like it.