Learnship, a German corporate language-training provider based in Cologne, has failed to pay the October wages of hundreds of their teachers. Up to 1000 teachers may be affected, with the company providing little to no information to staff.
What began in October as a delayed payment has now escalated into a widespread crisis with profound human impact: families unable to cover essential medications, parents cutting back on groceries, trainers cancelling trips home for Christmas, and many admitting they can no longer afford even modest holiday gifts for their children.
According to teacher Andjela Kanacki:
We can all acknowledge the difficulties that the online teaching industry is facing. Yet instead of properly supporting us – and, of course, honouring our outstanding payments – Learnship has only added additional stress on an already stressed community.
For many teachers, Learnship is their primary or only source of income and they estimate that the cumulative unpaid amount for October and November already exceeds €500,000.
Learnship preaches collaboration, clarity, and professionalism, but has continued to act in a way contrary to their own ‘values’
– Learnship teacher Cassandra Silva
Yet despite the scale of the crisis, Learnship continues to provide only brief, vague updates, without confirming when payments will be made or explaining what is happening behind the scenes.
According to Richard, a Learnship teacher:
It is we who have been the ambassadors of the brand and driven growth and success from the ground up. So it is flatly unacceptable that when it really counts, we are coldly shut out from communication and denied what we are rightfully owed: our money and an explanation.
On November 14, the situation took a dramatic turn: nearly all communication channels were abruptly shut down. Emails went unanswered, Microsoft Teams groups were deleted or locked, and the internal support chat was removed.
This whole situation would feel completely different if they had just told us when we could expect to be paid, or if we should expect to be paid at all. But instead, they’ve shown zero respect for us by keeping us completely in the dark. The lack of communication and the disregard for our mental well-being has stripped away any sense of professionalism or decency from this ordeal.
– Learnship teacher Alfonso M
For a full week, trainers found themselves without any contact from the company whatsoever. On November 21, Learnship finally issued a message acknowledging “operational difficulties,” though no details were shared.
Trainers were specifically instructed not to discuss the non-payment situation with their students and to cancel sessions using neutral reasons.
Being denied the right to speak to their students about the situation only added further distress, with one anonymous teacher saying:
We were asked to lie to our students and pretend nothing was wrong. For people who try to be honest, that alone creates a whole different kind of strain.
The latest update from company management arrived on November 28: “Unfortunately, I was not able to get the guidance we needed to send an update today… Our team is still working on this with urgency and we will send a new update as soon as we have it, which may be over the weekend.”
The lack of transparency has pushed many trainers to organise collectively through Facebook groups and WhatsApp chats and by seeking out and joining unions.
As the lead organiser for the TEFL Workers’ Union, Tom Liebewitz, put it:
Online platforms like Learnship promise flexibility and quick cash. But the reality is often one of precarity and exploitation and, when crises do occur, teachers’ livelihoods are the first to be sacrificed. But we’re not going to let Learnship get away with it. The teachers are determined to get what’s owed to them and the union has their back every step of the way.
Despite the teachers’ growing distress, there is also growing determination. They may be going on two months without pay or clarity. But they have a voice and they won’t be silenced.
If you work at Learnship, reach out to the union at [email protected] We can put you in contact with other trainers who are fighting to hold Learnship to account.
Learnship is a total disgrace. Sabotage this company and put the owners and managers in jail! Scumbags
Tell your students to contact their HR departments to explain the situation. Companies and corporations have already paid for their employees to take these classes, and unfortunately, the students can’t continue their training. Will these companies be reimbursed and the teachers not? Or will both the companies and teachers be ignored?
I had worked for Learnship for 12 years and swiftly resigned when I did not receive my salary for October – I did receive it last week thankfully. But that does not detract from the fact that LS has treated their teachers abbonably – and now we find out not only they have gone into receivership but have been taken over by another company.
Your jobs are no longer guaranteed and you do decide to work for the new company after you have applied your pay will be a princely sum of 7 dollars and hour – yes you hear me right. Frankly disgusting and shameful that a qualified and experienced English gets paid not only less than the living wage but that of a cleaner !!!!
We need to stand up and boycott these times of unprofessional companies otherwise nothing will change