Instructor Policy Manual

For teachers who joined our program before July 12th, please refer to this policy.

Last revised: September 2009

Professional Ethics and Conduct

• 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.
• I will place the interests of the student ahead of myself, celebrating their successes.
• I will maintain a clean, safe studio suitable to teaching students of all ages.
• I will be hygienically clean and exercise good judgment in my appearance when dealing with students.
• I will maintain effective and appropriate communication between the Company and students in a timely manner (24 hour response time).
• I will not solicit or harass TakeLessons students that do not have active lesson schedules.
• I will not circumvent the TakeLessons program and solicit students to pay me directly for lessons.
• I will not possess, use, sell, or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while conducting Company business.
• I also agree not to share any of the student's personally identifying information with any other person or organization unless I have written authorization from TakeLessons.
• I agree to represent the TakeLessons brand, policies and procedures with enthusiasm, honesty and integrity.

Corporate Policy

As a TakeLessons Contractor, you understand and agree to the following policies and procedures:

• You agree to follow suggested guidelines for the TakeLessons Experience™ and its procedures.
• You agree to log in to the site at least once per month to review and update your availability.
• You agree to use the online vacation tool to let us know of any time during which you will not be able to teach; you will let us know about vacations of 5+ days at least 30 days in advance.
  • As an independent contractor, you are entitled to schedule vacations and holidays. Our corporate holidays are: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day, Thanksgiving and the Friday after. Advise us via your schedule how our clients are being re-scheduled while you are absent.
• You agree to attend training calls to educate yourself on new tools or resources.
• You agree to never collect tuition from a student or make arrangements for the student to pay you outside of TakeLessons billing.
• You agree that you will not discuss your pay rate with students.
• You agree to record lesson notes in the TakeLessons system so your student can prepare for their next lesson. You agree to mark lessons as completed, missed by student or rescheduled within 72 hours of the scheduled lesson. Lessons not marked within 72 hours will not be paid.
• Our teachers will be evaluated on a yearly basis in conjunction with their contract renewal to review their student rating, retention score, and internal assessment.
• Instructors pay a yearly certification fee of $49.00, which includes a criminal background check. This is deducted from their paycheck automatically.
• First lessons are scheduled with the expectation that the lesson will occur at the scheduled time. We expect teachers to keep that commitment. If it is decided by the student and the teacher that an alternate time would be better changes can be made in the calendar by the teacher.
• If a new student cancels their lessons before taking their first one, even if the lesson is scheduled for the same day the student cancels, you understand that you will not be paid for the lesson.
• Instructors should not reschedule or miss lessons for any reason. In case of emergencies within 48 hours of the lesson, you should contact the student and TakeLessons to reschedule.
• Payroll is processed twice a month and all instructors are paid via direct deposit (EFT). Lessons marked as completed between the 1st and 15th of the month will be processed on the 20th of the same month. Lessons marked as complete between the 16th and 31st of the month will be processed on the 5th of the subsequent month.

Sexual Harassment Policy

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 Recruiting. 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.