Code of Conduct

We want True Love Tattoos to be a safe, comfortable, inclusive and creative space for both tattooists and clients. The aim of this is to outline expected behaviour whilst at True Love Tattoos.

The True Love Tattoos code of ethics and business conduct outlines our expectations regarding the behaviour of our employees and freelancers (tattooists) towards co-workers and clients.

True Love Tattoos stands for the core values of synergy, honesty, and integrity. We want to create a workable creative environment for the people that use it for their work and for clients alike to feel comfortable and safe. We want to continue to create an inclusive environment for any member of the public who wishes to become a client, and co-workers alike. As such, we expect all organisation members to be directed by the same values in their judgment and behaviour.

Open communication and expression should be guided by the desire for a respectful, safe, and collaborative working environment.

Scope

This policy applies to all organisational members regardless of rank or employment type.

Expectations at work

If you are working with a paying client you are expected to fulfil the financial agreement of paying 40% of the earnings (up to a maximum of £100 per day) to True Love Tattoos on every day that you use the studio facilities. Pre-agreed pro-bono appointments are acceptable and will not be charged at the standard agreed rate, but would preferably be carried out on non ‘rota’ days or outside of standard studio opening hours. 

Your assigned days are so that everyone has the ability to access the studio as fairly as possible with consistency, they are not viewed as days you MUST be present. As freelancers you are entitled to create your own working hours. However, to open spaces up to the availability of others, days off away from normal rota days will require the google calendar to be altered by you to reflect the absence as far in as advance as is possible. 

If at any point you need to alter your rota days please alert the owner with as much detail as possible of the requirements, in writing, so that he can try and make allowances for the change. We cannot always promise changes will be granted due to the nature of the other freelancers schedules and needing to make everything work well for all members.

If you have set days and your regular use of them drops for longer than 4 consecutive weeks you will be asked if you still require all the spaces and if they need to be opened up to other members for their use. We would prefer not to have spaces allocated to a person then regularly not used, so that everyone gets the opportunity to use the studio as much as they’d like to do.

Holidays and prolonged time away 

Please remove your slots on the google calendar to make the time available for other members. 

Compliance with law

Employees must work to protect the company and its legal interests by complying with all environmental, trading, safety, and privacy laws. Clients details must never be used for personal use. Any Government or local authority issued rules regarding things such as PPE or processes must be adhered to regardless of personal beliefs - ie if disposable face masks are required to be worn then they must be worn and can only be disposable. 

Safety in the working environment

All employees should respect their colleagues, supervisors, and clients. Any discriminatory behaviour or harassment will not be tolerated. This includes and isn’t limited to sexism, homophobia, transphobia and racism. Personal and professional boundaries must be respected.

True Love Tattoos provides-

We will provide the workspace and some physical equipment for carrying out tattoos, such as furniture including a client bed, practitioner chair and arm rest. We provide clinical waste provisions, and PRS licensing to allow commercial music to be played legally on the premises. We provide Public Liability insurance for the Premises, and have simple treatment insurance but freelance workers are always recommended to have their own personal insurance especially for their own belongings as the standard studio coverage will not cover tattoo equipment. We recommend that you photograph and list all your machines for your own records. We do not take responsibility for loss or theft of personal belongings. Any electrical equipment that is used in the studio including power packs will be yearly PAT tested. We provide a small range of hot and cold drinks. We will provide disposables and sundries such as kitchen roll, stencil paper, stencil making machine, Nitrile gloves in sizes M and L (Small when they are available), standard vaseline, Plastic aprons (usually white), tongue depressors, basic razors, clip cord sheaths, clingfilm and basic plastic surface coverings, cleaning chemicals including standard green soap and surface disinfectants. At this time we do not provide autoclave facilities so members will be expected to provide their own disposable tattoo equipment. Members will also need to provide their own tattoo machines and inks, face masks, visors or goggles and anything they require above and beyond the basic studio provisions. We provide a fully alarmed and CCTV covered premises for protection of staff and equipment.

Problems with other employees of any type

Any serious issues (ie. the ones listed below) that arise with co-workers (employed or freelance) or clients must be reported In writing to the owner of True Love Tattoos. This will then be investigated and addressed within an appropriate amount of time needed. At True Love Tattoos we will not tolerate homophobia, sexism, racism, hate speech, bullying or sexual inappropriateness. We would expect that co-workers treat each other with respect and respect each others personal boundaries. 

Professionalism

Employees must show integrity and professionalism in every aspect of conduct, including matters involving absenteeism, and lateness. If you are sick and have clients or are late, it is your responsibility to alert the client to the best of your capacity, or to alert someone within True Love Tattoos to deal with it for you in a timely manner. 

Integrity

All employees of any type should fulfil their work with integrity and respect toward our clients and co-workers alike.

Care for the physical environment

Employees should treat company property and their physical environment with respect and care. You will be expected to put your own rubbish in the bins and to occasionally empty bins if they become too full. If you receive any parcels or post to the premises you will be responsible for the breaking down and disposal of any packaging into the proper bins - we have recycling and standard waste for day to day rubbish. Clinical waste provisions are provided in the work spaces and are the responsibility of True Love Tattoos. Sometimes you will be required to hoover and mop your own work space if you work on a day that the third party cleaning isn’t being done ie on a Sunday. You are responsible for keeping your workspace furniture clean and in good repair and to report any damage to studio equipment in writing to the owner as soon as possible so it can be maintained. 

On-boarding and Off-boarding Procedures for freelancers 

On-boarding - Will consist of an introduction to the studio and other members, you will be shown where things are and given a rundown of the studio day to day processes. You will be provided with a rent book for recording your studio rents and can request a rent invoice for your accounts at anytime. You will be added to the google calendar and shown how to use it. After a month of continuous work you will be given a set of keys and an alarm fob to access the premises independently.

Off-boarding - When leaving True Love Tattoos you will be required to follow an off-boarding procedure no matter the circumstances. You will be able to remove your property from the premises at an arranged time and will be accompanied by the owner or his representative. This is so that they can make sure of the security and safety of all other members and to safeguard against theft or sabotage. You will be required to hand back any keys and alarm fobs on the same day and will be removed from and digital aspects of the studio and have password access to any digital formats revoked. You will receive any invoices you need and copies of the pages of your rent book for your own accounts. 

Communicating issues or questions 

Any serious issues or questions at work that cannot be dealt with face to face can be communicated in writing to sugarraysmalls@gmail.com or by written letter to the owner of True Love Tattoos, Mark Smalls. This gives time to investigate or consider issues and format proper responses. True Love Tattoos would prefer serious issues to be dealt with in written format to protect the interest of all parties involved by allowing a hard copy to be created for future reference if needed.

Disciplinary Actions

Employees of any type who repeatedly or deliberately fail to follow our code of conduct will meet an appropriate disciplinary action.

Following a clear warning, employees who persistently show indecorous behaviour may face demotion, reprimand, detraction of benefits, suspension, or termination.

Legal actions may be taken in cases of theft, embezzlement, corruption, and other unlawful actions.