EMERGING BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES IN ORGANIZATIONS: PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS OF TATIOOEDEMPLOYEES

Problem Statement/Purpose: Performance evaluations have not always delivered on their promise to serve as an objective measure of employee ability and contributions toward achievement of organizational goals. Performance evaluations are controversial and continue to be subject to much academic and legal scrutiny. The purpose of this article is to highlight the possibilitythat, in some instances. tattooed employees may he subjected to bias evaluations based on appearance and not job related objective performance criteria. Method: The study draws from observation, documentary, and other qualitative research and interpretive methods. Examples are drawn from both private and public sector employees. Finding/ Implications: The analysis leads to the conclusion that tattoos. are, in SOllie instances, a determining factor in overall performance evaluations and employee rating. The implications of this study are varied, while current trends in workplace management show greater tolerance to tattooed employees, there is still evidence that body decorations and especially tattooed employees may be subjected to bias treatment during performance evaluations. Originality: This article suggests an organizationaljustice conceptualframeworkfor probing the link between tattooed subcultures and organizational behavior in the modern workplace. The results provide supportforfurther empirical investigations into the emerging organizational management trends to expand our knowledge ofthe intersection between culture and Organizational Behavior.