A woman has accused TJ Maxx of rejecting her for a job because of her face, neck and body tattoos and numerous piercings.
Ash Putnam, 23, passing by @ashxobrien on TikTok, she revealed that she had applied to be a part-time employee at the retailer, but learned she had been passed over via an automated email “a few weeks” after her application.
“So I wanted to come out here and talk about something that’s really starting to annoy me,” she began a TikTok about her failure to land the gig.
Her first complaint was that she was notified of her rejection via an automated rejection email instead of a phone call. But this is standard practice for large companies when applicants don’t make it past the first round of interviews.
Ash Putnam, 23, wanted a part-time job at TJ Maxx to pay off her debt faster, but was discouraged when she received a rejection email a few weeks after applying
She personally asked an employee why she wasn’t hired and was told it was due to her lack of experience, although she suspected her tattoos were the real reason for her rejection
TJ Maxx does not ask applicants to provide photos of themselves
Ash then decided to personally go to her local TJ Maxx to demand answers as to why she wasn’t hired.
In Ash’s retelling, the employee told her that she “didn’t have enough experience,” and that there were candidates who had more experience than her.
She later explained that she didn’t “need” the job at TJ Maxx, but wanted to supplement her income to pay off her debts faster.
It is unclear what Ash’s work history is. However, she prominently promotes her OnlyFans on her TikTok and Instagram, and has spoken about having enough money for extensive plastic surgery in addition to her external body modifications.
In a follow-up on TikTok, she also said that she delivers for UberEats.
When Ash asked if her tattoos were the reason for her rejection, the employee assured her “that wasn’t the reason.”
But Ash suspected that wasn’t entirely true.
“I don’t feel like that’s true, but anyway, I’ll leave it at that,” she said in the TikTok.
Ash’s visible tattoos feature satanic imagery, including a goat representing the deity Baphomet with a pentagram on its forehead; and a Leviathan cross on the back of her hand.
That said, it’s unclear at what point hiring managers would have seen what Ash looked like in connection with her application.
The online application for a retail associate position at TJ Maxx does not request a portrait; nor does the downloadable PDF of a cover letter ask for a photo of potential hires.
Still, Ash had even more trouble with the reasoning that companies want to see prior relevant work experience for entry-level, minimum-wage jobs.
“I just wonder how teenagers and young adults who have never had a job, how are they supposed to get a job if these companies are only hiring people with experience?” she asked.
“So younger people just can’t get a job because they haven’t worked enough? So they deny a 16 year old a job because they don’t have enough work experience?
‘It just doesn’t mean anything to me.
‘I hate that my tattoos so determine whether or not I get a job. Just because I have tattoos doesn’t mean I’m not a good worker.
‘I don’t understand that at all. Because literally the smartest, most intelligent people I’ve ever met are people with tattoos and piercings.”
She also focused on places where the “hire now” signs will remain forever.
‘Those signs have been up for months and I know that many people are looking for work. How come they still haven’t been accepted?’ she argued.
“I just feel like this is something that needs to be talked about. It’s so annoying.’
While there was no hard evidence that the rejection from TJ Maxx came about because of Ash’s appearance, thousands who accepted her TikTok comments were quick to claim that her tattoos essentially disqualified her from the customer-facing job at the relatively boring job. store.
Thousands responded to the comments, with most agreeing that the prominent tattoos, some with satanic connotations, did Ash no favors during the interview process.
“Tattoo here, it’s probably the tattoos,” someone offered.
“There are tattoos… And then there are TATTOOS,” a second commented.
“As someone who loves tattoos, it’s 100% the tattoos,” said a third.
“There’s a reason tattoo artists consider facial tattoos to be career-ending,” a fourth suggested.
At least two people with hiring experience added that the tattoos probably would have been a dealbreaker if not deal breaker.
“HR supervisor here. There is no way a company would put you up against customers like TJ maxx,” one person argued.
“I used to be a hiring manager for tjmaxx and let me tell you, it was about the facial piercings and tattoos,” a second admitted.
And others agreed, as mere outsiders considering the bigger picture.
“I’m sure you’re a great worker, but let’s be (real) here,” one person reasoned.
“I want to be this delulu,” a second joked.
And as another put it: ‘If you throw a bird at society, society often throws one back.’