Copyrights and employment contract

Employment contracts

Employment contracts are for photographers working with contractor/employer who are about to undertake a legally binding contract and should contain.

• A written statement outlining the work parameters
• Employment terms and conditions
• Their worker’s rights
• Responsibilities of both parties
• Duties to be carried out

Employment terms and conditions

Both parties in the contrast must stick to the terms of the contract until it finishes unless something between the parties changes, everyone should be noted of any changes that happen.

Any legally binding terms should be clearly presented within the contract however there are multiple forms a contract my take like:

• A written statement of employment
• An employee handbook provided by the company
• A written letter 
• A verbal agreement ( in writing is preferable )

 An employment contract is required by law before accepting any job from an employer and should be provided by the employer within 2 months of the start date.  

Written Statements

A written statement is made of multiple documents outlining the contract and MUST include a principle statement consisting of:

• Principle statement
• The name of the business
• The employee’s name, job description, start and end date of employment 
• If any work prior counts towards further sustained employment 
• How much and often the employee will be paid 
• The work hours, stating the number of hours in a week/month, any breaks or overtime the employee may be invited to
• Any holiday time off, including public ones
• Where they might be work, and if they could be relocated.

Additional information that MAY be included

• Notice for submission period length 
• Collective agreements  between both parties
• (if there will be) Pensions
• How to complain about disciplinary decisions the employee doesn’t agree with

The written statement DOES NOT need to include  

• Sick pay
• Grievance procedures (if this is included how to deal complain and deal with the situations Should also be included) 
• disciplinary decisions   (if this is included how to complain and deal with the procedures should be included)                      

If the work is contracted to be done abroad the employer MUST state in the contract 

• How long they’ll be abroad 
• What currency they’ll be paid in
• If there’s any additional benefits or pay
• Various terms relating to arriving and leaving the UK

There are often implied terms with a contract often not written down as they should be apparent:

• People shouldn’t steal from you, nor should you steal from them 
• The employer should provide a safe working environment and conditions for the employee 
• There should be 5/6 weeks of paid holiday (as this is required by law employees can be forced to take this time off)
• The employee must have the necessary requirements for the job (don’t lie on your cv)

Collective Agreements

An employer may have agreements with representative’s unions allowing them to negotiate the terms of pay and working hours. 

The agreement should state who will represent the employee and how they are affected by the terms in the contract, as well as anyone else involved.

If there is a problem with your employer’s written state there are 3 steps you can take to sorting it out.

1. You can start by having an informal discussion with your employer hoping to amend the issues raised with the aim to resolve the conflict
2. If this doesn’t work it’s advised to take up a grievance agist the employer, how to seek advice on this should be stated within the terms of the agreement 
3. If this does resolve the case an employment tribunal can be made but should be done as a last resort  

While this is for contracted work by an employer, freelance photographers can present some additional terms and procedures

freelance photographers aren’t granted :

• Sick pay
• maternity / pertinacity leave
• holidays

while these aren’t a given is up the the photographer themselves to dictate when they can have time off, if they can have a holiday. it should be noted if and when these things happen for tax purposes

A photographer is always on the job working and shooting