A heavily tattooed woman, Ash Putnam (aka @ashxobrien), took to TikTok after TJ Maxx rejected her for a retail job. In her viral video, she expressed frustration over being denied without a call, receiving only an automated email. When she confronted the hiring manager, she was told it was due to lack of experience—not her tattoos or piercings, though she doubts that.
Putnam, 24, questioned how young people are expected to gain experience if employers won’t give them a chance. She also voiced frustration over her tattoos being a barrier, saying they don’t reflect her work ethic.
Online responses were blunt. Some said her facial tattoos and piercings make her “unemployable,” while others noted that placement—not tattoos themselves—is often the issue. Former TJ Maxx staff even confirmed visible facial ink could be a dealbreaker for customer-facing roles.
Despite growing acceptance of tattoos, Putnam believes companies should rethink outdated hiring standards, saying body art reflects creativity, not unprofessionalism.