I don't think it's just why a person would get one. It's why would one in a visible or prominent do that when it limits your options in the job market. Sure, things are changing and there are a lot more jobs than there used to be where it's not a big deal. But I would think -- and my thirty seconds of research -- reveals that it still a pretty big deal in getting a job.
The Cleveland Clinic has a similar policy: “Tattoos must be covered during working hours to ensure a consistent professional appearance while working.”Mayo Clinic Spokesman Bryan Anderson stated, “Mayo Clinic has long recognized the importance of presenting a professional image to our patients. Under our policy, employees are asked to cover tattoos or other body art.”
"Still, a 2011 study by CareerBuilder shows that 31% of surveyed employers ranked “having a visible tattoo” as the top personal attribute that would dissuade them from promoting an employee."
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelhe...too-and-a-job/ (note the title of the article: "Tattoos No Longer a Kiss of Death In the Workplace."
"Many businesses and organizations still frown upon employees showing visible tattoos in the workplace. About 60 percent of human resource managers surveyed in 2012 by the Center for Professional Excellence said a tattoo could hinder a job candidate’s chances of getting hired, an increase from 57 percent in 2011."
http://diversitymbamagazine.com/prof...ls-wearing-ink
I'm a lawyer. I never see a tattoo on another lawyer in Court. In law firm offices, particularly large law firms that cater to corporation, you almost never see one, particularly on receptionists or legal assistants who have to appear in Court. (Granted, they may have them if they are well hidden and you would never know.) Accounting offices, same thing. In top tier restaurants, very very rarely in the front of the house. (The kitchen, is quite a different issue.) And the types of stores that I shop in, I almost never see one, although somewhat oddly, the owner of my bespoke tailor in NYC has one.