09/10/2026
🚩 PIERCERS IN THE UK — PLEASE KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.
I want to share my experience to warn other piercers, especially those looking for work or considering relocating for a new opportunity.
The offer I received involved:
• Giving 30% of my piercing income to the studio
• Paying for my own council registration, insurance, jewellery and supplies
• Being required to attend the studio 5 days a week, for 5 hours a day
• Performing reception duties, opening and closing the studio, dealing with walk-ins and managing stock — with no additional pay
• Taking on the financial risk of relocating without any guaranteed income
But there is something else you need to know: UK employment law matters, even if a business calls you self-employed.
Your legal employment status depends on the REAL working relationship, not just the label a business gives you.
If you're required to work set hours, personally provide services and carry out duties under the studio's control, you may need to check whether you legally qualify as a worker or employee rather than genuinely self-employed.
Why does this matter? Because workers and employees may have legal rights to the National Minimum Wage, paid holiday and other protections. If your status is incorrectly classified or your rights are being denied, you may be able to challenge this and seek to recover money you're legally owed.
📌 Know your rights before accepting an offer.
📌 Get every agreement in writing.
📌 Calculate your REAL profit after expenses.
📌 Don't assume that being labelled self-employed means you have no rights.
📌 Seek advice from ACAS if you're unsure about your employment status or believe your rights have been breached.
You can find official guidance at:
🔗 www.acas.org.uk/employment-status
🔗 www.gov.uk/employment-status
I walked away because the arrangement didn't make financial sense for me. I'm sharing this so others can make informed decisions before committing their time, money and future to an offer like this.
Your skills are valuable. Your time is valuable. And you have the right to question an agreement that doesn't feel right.
Please share this with other artists who need to hear it. 🖤
I’ve been through this before: paying rent, covering my own expenses, managing social media, yet still getting calls asking why I’m not at the studio when I can’t come in. Self-employed when it comes to expenses, but treated like an employee when they need you. 🤡
Know your rights in the UK. Contact ACAS if you think your employment status or rights are being misrepresented.
Passion doesn’t pay your bills. 🖤
