Policies
Diversity, equality, inclusion
Chicken Fruit is passionate about promoting diversity and equality within our studio and through the work we produce. We want our company to be one in which every employee, freelancer, contractor and viewer of our work feels respected and supported. We are firmly against any form of ableism, homophobia, racism, sexism, transphobia, and any other harmful and oppressive prejudices.
At the moment, Chicken Fruit is made up of only two people. While this means we can boast a staff that is 100% on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, 50% from a working-class background and only 50% cis guy, we acknowledge that this also means we are currently 100% white and 100% able-bodied.
When we do take on freelancers, contractors and permanent employees, we commit to not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender, marital status (inc. civil partnerships), race, colour, nationality, belief or sexual orientation. All freelancers, contractors and employees, whether part-time, full-time or temporary, will be treated fairly and with respect. Selection for employment, whether as a member of staff or on a freelance basis, will based on ability only.
All employees will be encouraged to develop their full potential and feel comfortable to express themselves – including but not limited to their beliefs, race, gender and sexuality – in any reasonable way they see fit. The only restriction Chicken Fruit has on hairstyles, headwear, jewellery, tattoos or clothing is that, when working with us in person, we would like you to be wearing enough to not expose anyone to a part of your body that would reasonably distress them. (We’re talking genitals, mainly, but this would also apply to if you have a really gross infected toe or something – don’t get it out during a meeting please.)
Reasonable adjustments will be gladly made to accommodate any disabilities, and we encourage open and honest conversations regarding mental health. All physical and mental disabilities (including mental illnesses, disorders and other “invisible” disabilities) will be treated with equal seriousness and understanding.
We will actively seek to increase the number of people we work with who are from groups and communities that are under-represented in the motion design and animation industry as a whole, and/or in particular job roles within the industry.
We will ensure projects we work on do not promote harmful stereotypes, and, where possible and appropriate, portray a diverse range of characters.
We will ensure all employees are trained in their rights and responsibilities under the diversity, equality and inclusion policy. We will not tolerate any form of intimidation, bullying or harassment from any members of staff, nor from clients or suppliers. Any serious instance of intimidation, bullying or harassment may be considered a criminal matter under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, and will be treated as such.
Environment
Chicken Fruit is committed to minimising the impact of our activities on the environment.
All energy used to support the running of our studio and equipment is from a 100% renewable source.
We are firmly against the practice of NFTs, crypto art and cryptocurrencies, and reserve the right to refuse to work with artists or clients who have bought or sold NFTs.
We commit to minimising waste. We are a paper-free studio, and encourage those we work with to use digital documents wherever possible. Where this is not feasible, we encourage recycling within the company and amongst our clients and suppliers.
We commit to holding meetings online where possible, and considering the most carbon-efficient means of travel when that can’t be done. We will carbon offset any Chicken Fruit journeys taken by plane – this includes but is not limited to employee travel done on behalf of the studio, and materials and equipment flown to us from overseas.
We commit to ensuring work we produce will never frame environmental-conserving behaviours in a negative light.
We commit to using the production tools provided by Albert for each large-scale production we undertake. During pre-production, we will complete a carbon footprint prediction, and will track our carbon emissions data throughout production to ensure our targets are met.
Internships
We commit to paying interns the living wage for the area in which they reside.
We will allow remote internships to give equal opportunities to those who do not live in London, or who do not have the resources to stay in London for an extended time.
In the case of remote internships, Chicken Fruit will be happy to loan any equipment and software needed.
During the hiring process and internship period, interns will be treated as employees. They will be respected as such, and will be expected to obey all company policies.
Interns will be given mentoring and detailed feedback throughout the internship, and will be provided with references on completion of the internship period.
Anti-Bullying and Harassment
If any employee (including freelancers, contractors and interns) or job applicant raises a complaint of bullying, harassment or victimisation within the workplace, this will be taken extremely seriously.
The individual raising the complaint will be supported in any informal steps they would like to make to attempt to resolve the situation. If this is deemed insufficient or ineffective, Chicken Fruit will conduct a formal investigation in a timely and confidential manner. The investigation will be thorough, impartial and objective, and will be carried out with due respect for the rights of all parties concerned.
During this investigation, we will hold a meeting with the person making the complaint so they can give their full statement of events. They will have the right to be accompanied by a colleague or trade union representative of their choice, who must respect the confidentiality of the investigation.
Where the complaint is about a Chicken Fruit employee, if circumstances require we may consider suspending them on full pay or making their temporary changes to working arrangements pending the outcome of the investigation.
Where the complaint is about a client or other supplier, we will consider what action may be appropriate to protect the person making the complaint and others who may be affected, bearing in mind the reasonable needs of the business and the rights of the accused.
We will also consider any request made related to changes in working arrangements of the person making the complaint. It may be necessary to interview witnesses to any incident mentioned in the complaint. If so, the importance of confidentiality will be emphasised.
At the end of the formal investigation, a report containing the findings will be drawn up. A meeting will be arranged to discuss the report, the outcome, and what action, if any, will be taken. As before, all parties will have the right to bring a colleague or trade union representative to the meeting.
If the report finds that harassment or bullying has occurred, prompt action will be taken. If the bully or harasser is an employee, this may be in the form of disciplinary proceedings. If the bully or harasser is a third party, appropriate action will be discussed.
Obviously, we’d prefer that no bullying, harassment or victimisation happens at all. As such, all of our employees are required to undertake anti-bullying and harassment training. Currently, this is done through ScreenSkills’ Tackling Harassment and Bullying at work e-learning module, and BIFA’s Anti-Bullying and Harassment Training course.
Anti-Modern Slavery
Chicken Fruit has a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery. We are committed to acting ethically and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships, and to ensuring modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our business or supply chains.
We expect the same standards from all of our contractors, suppliers, clients, employees and other business partners.
Charity
Chicken Fruit always offers a discounted rate when doing work for charities. Outside of this, Chicken Fruit aims to do every tenth project overall pro-bono for a charitable cause.
Chicken Fruit encourages employees to take at least one paid “Volunteering Day” each year, to be devoted to volunteering for a charity or otherwise donating their time for a good cause.
Chicken Fruit makes regular donations to chosen charity partners. Our 2023/2024 charities are:
Medical Aid for Palestinians
Disasters Emergency Committee – Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
Gendered Intelligence
We will monitor the success of these policies regularly and aim to review them at least once a year.
Last review: 27/03/2024