Instructor Policy

• I agree that I will embody the TakeLessons Core Values of Perseverance, Respect, Ownership Mentality, and Constant And Never-ending Improvement.
• I will be respectful and encouraging of students and ensure the opportunity for an excellent experience.
• I will be on time to lessons and ensure my students receive their full-allotted time.
• If I choose to teach a lesson for longer than the allotted time, I understand that I will not be compensated extra, unless the student communicates their consent to bill for the extra time to TakeLessons and the payment has been processed.
• I will place the interests of the student ahead of myself, celebrating their successes.
• I will maintain a clean, safe studio and environment suitable to teaching students of all ages.
• I will be hygienically clean and exercise good judgment in my appearance when teaching students.
• I will not solicit or harass TakeLessons students that do not have active lesson schedules.
• I will not possess, use, sell, or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while conducting Company business.
• I agree to represent the TakeLessons brand, policies, and procedures with enthusiasm, honesty, and integrity.
• I agree to follow suggested guidelines for the "TakeLessons FirstClass Experience™" and its procedures.
• I agree to never collect tuition from a student or make arrangements for the student to pay me outside of TakeLessons billing.
• I agree that I will not discuss my pay rate with students.
• I agree to customize lesson plans to fit each individual student’s unique needs and desires.

• I will maintain effective and appropriate communication with students and with TakeLessons in a timely manner of being contacted by staff (24 hour response time).
• I agree to log in to the site at least once every 30 days to confirm and/or update my availability, and understand that if I have not logged in in over 30 days I will not be placed with any students and my account may be canceled.
• I agree to use the online vacation tool to communicate time off for dates when I will not be available to teach; I will let TakeLessons know about time-off of three weeks or more at least 30 days in advance via written or verbal notice.
• I agree to attend initial orientation to educate myself of the company policies and procedures.
• I agree to record lesson notes in the TakeLessons online lesson journals so that my students can prepare for their next lesson.
• I will utilize lesson journals to motivate my students.
• I agree to mark lessons as completed, missed by student, or rescheduled within 72 hours of the scheduled lesson. I understand that lessons not marked or rescheduled within 72 hours are subject to forfeit.
• I will not mark a lesson as complete if it did not take place.
• I will unschedule lessons if 72 hours has passed and a future lesson date and time has not been confirmed with the student/parent.
• First lessons are scheduled with the expectation that the lesson will occur at the scheduled time. I am expected to keep that commitment. If it is decided by the student and me that an alternate time would be better, I can make changes to the schedule.
• I understand that in order to protect my time, TakeLessons Student Policies allow students to reschedule a maximum of one lesson per calendar month, providing 24 hours notice is given. I agree that any additional reschedules are at my discretion and must be communicated to TakeLessons within 72 hours of the original lesson date and time.
• I understand that lessons must be made up within the calendar month that they are originally scheduled, unless approved by a TakeLessons staff member.
• If I have a conflict with a scheduled lesson, it is my responsibility to reschedule the lesson and/or communicate with the TakeLessons staff to ensure that the reschedule is complete and to confirm the change with the student.
• I will schedule Flex Lessons in advance to ensure excellent communication between teacher, student, and staff.
• I agree to teach students with a scheduled lesson time slot as well as students who are on the Flex Plan.
• I agree that I will teach all students within the traveling radius that I have designated, regardless of actual mileage.
• If I do not wish to receive new students, I will communicate with TakeLessons in advance. I understand that I will be expected to teach new students unless this is communicated prior to the student purchasing lessons.
• I agree that I am qualified to teach each and every subject that I have listed, and I will offer a FirstClass Experience™ to every student of every subject that I have designated.
• I understand that I am responsible for the retention of my students, and it is at the discretion of TakeLessons whether or not my retention is satisfactory.
• I understand that my internal reputation rating is a determining factor of whether or not I will continue to receive additional students.
• I will maintain a professional and accurate public profile to the best of my ability, and will comply with the suggestions of the TakeLessons staff regarding my profile, knowing that it is in my best interest.
• I will contact all new students who are placed with me within 48 hours of viewing the email notification, and will mark the appropriate link in my online account when contact has been made.

• I consent to teach all students between the ages of 5 and 99, regardless of gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, providing there is no reasonable threat to my safety and/or well-being. Teachers hired before October 1, 2011, who specified otherwise in the interview process and who have reached an agreement with TakeLessons are exempt.
• I will not circumvent the TakeLessons Program and solicit students to pay me directly for lessons.
• I agree not to share any of the students’ personally identifying information with any other person or organization unless I have written authorization from TakeLessons.
• As an independent contractor, I am entitled to vacations and holidays pending that I submit time-off in advance and communicate with my students. The corporate holidays are: Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Thanksgiving. Time-off must be submitted and communicated to students for any holidays not previously mentioned.
• I will pay a yearly certification fee of $49.00. Certification includes reference checks, criminal background checks and account maintenance. I understand I am not required to pay this up front; the yearly certification fee is deducted from my paycheck automatically and is renewed annually.
• All new students are given the option of a Money Back Guarantee, which states that they can receive a refund for their initial purchase of lessons up to 72 hours after the first lesson. If a new student takes advantage of the Money Back Guarantee at least 24 hours prior to the first lesson, I understand that I will not be paid for any of the lessons.
• If a current student cancels their account and/or receives a refund for their remaining lessons I understand that I will not be paid for the untaught lessons.
• I understand that if I teach a lesson that is not paid for, TakeLessons cannot guarantee that I will be compensated for the lesson.
• Payroll is processed twice a month and I will be paid via Automatic Clearing House (ACH). Lessons marked as completed between the 1st and the 15th of the month will be processed on the 22nd of the same month. Lessons marked as complete between the 16th and 31st of the month will be processed on the 7th of the subsequent month.
• I will communicate with TakeLessons at least 30 days in advance in the event that I am changing studio locations and/or moving. I understand that I am not guaranteed to continue my services in my new location.

• If I am listed as being able to travel to students’ homes for in-home lessons, I understand that I can be placed with a Best Buy in-home student.
• I will be asked to wear a TakeLessons Shirt to teach Best Buy in-home students, which will be sent to me free of charge when my first Best Buy student is placed with me.
• If my TakeLessons Shirt is lost or damaged, I am responsible for replacing it.

TakeLessons expects teachers and students to be committed to creating and maintaining an environment free of sexual harassment.

• Prohibited conduct may include, but is not limited to, unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature.
  • Unwanted touching or physical contact
  • Sexual propositions or unwanted flirtations or advances
  • Comments about an individual's body or dress
  • Stalking
• Consensual relations or romantic relationships between teacher/student are inconsistent with the proper role of the teacher and the integrity of the services provided. For that reason, TakeLessons prohibits relations between a teacher and a student during the period of the student/teacher relationship.
• To file a formal grievance contact the Director of Talent & Culture. The procedure depends on the circumstance and the status of the person bringing the charge and the person against the charge is brought. It is recommended that you put your complaint in writing, providing dates, times, places, and witnesses to the harassment.