The TEFL Workers’ Union has a message for Neil Pick

Teachers at Meridian English have gone months without payment – and without communication from CEO Neil Pick.  Here the teachers tell their story.

The first the teachers knew about it, it was because their pay didn’t arrive. Then, through vague, sporadic, and often conflicting messages from Meridian CEO Neil Pick, the teachers learned that the company was in trouble: there wasn’t money there to pay their wages or keep the company operating.

The sad reality is that online teaching is not the lucrative career it should be and missing a month’s wages can be detrimental to a teacher’s finances – not to mention their emotional wellbeing.  

When the worst happens and  a company goes under, there is recourse: the government redundancy scheme can cover lost wages and redundancy pay. A different scheme can cover lost notice pay. That’s less than ideal, but it means workers can move on with their lives with at least what they’re owed.

But there’s a catch: workers only have recourse to the scheme once the company goes into insolvency.

Despite the writing clearly being on the wall, Neil Pick dragged his feet. For weeks. And now months. 

First, there was little to no communication. Then, he told the workers he was seeking a new investor. Despite finally admitting the company was being wound down, he has still failed to appoint an insolvency administrator.  

All that foot-dragging means the teachers are still owed for work they completed. Their bills haven’t stopped coming. Their rent is still due. Food isn’t getting any cheaper at the supermarket. Yet, the money still hasn’t arrived.

The union is supporting these workers as they fight to get what they’re owed and our message to Neil Pick is simple: Stop dragging your feet. Appoint the insolvency administrator. And then apologise to your staff.

Neil Pick, it’s worth noting, sits on the board of Devon Mind, the mental health charity. The significance of this was not lost on the teachers, with one teacher writing:

“In recent LinkedIn posts, Meridian English CEO Neil Pick wrote about the importance of leadership, kindness and treating people with respect. One post quoted Malcolm Forbes’ words: “The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” Another spoke about integrity, empathy and building strong relationships. 

Yet, at the same time, teachers employed by Meridian English have not been paid for work already completed. The irony of this would be laughable if it wasn’t so tragic.”

Various other teachers commented on the continual lack of communication:

“While the closing of a company is a very stressful situation, Neil Pick has treated his employees abysmally, leading to confusion and panic. In the rare case that he bothers to respond to anything, all you get is empty platitudes about understanding how difficult the situation is for us while he drags the situation out for longer and longer.”

“The lack of communication has left teachers feeling abandoned and deeply distressed. We have been left in limbo, uncertain about our jobs, pay and future, while continuing to put pupils first. During this time, we would have appreciated greater transparency and timely communication from Neil; however, he has failed to provide us with the information and reassurance we urgently need during an extremely uncertain period.”

Other teachers focused on the fact that their commitment to job – despite the trying circumstances – wasn’t matched by that of the CEO:

“I agreed to work the unpaid period because I cared about my students and my colleagues and I wanted the best possible outcome for all of us.

I’m really sad I didn’t get to say goodbye to my students and I’m beyond frustrated at how this has been handled. Neil Pick said he was grateful for our professionalism and understanding, the least he could do is show some of the same – communicate with us and start the insolvency process.”

For all the teachers, it wasn’t just about the money, it was about the loss of relationships with students whom they had known for months and sometimes years:

“I was very disappointed with the sudden end to the classes as we were unable to say goodbye to our students, some of which we worked with for several years. The lack of communication from Neil Pick has been frustrating and caused a lot of worry in me and the other teachers. Our financial distress increases every time new bills are due and there is no sign of the thousands of pounds Neil owes us.”

“I’m gutted that I never got the chance to say goodbye to my students. I’m incredibly proud of them and although I did tell them this often, a chance to say ‘all the best’ and to their parents too would have been more professional. At the end of the last lesson I said, “I’ll see you on Wednesday!” and of course, I didn’t.”

And, lest we forget, this is about justice. And the union will be here to hold Neil Pick to account until the teachers receive every penny they’re owed:

“While Neil Pick may have multiple businesses, the teachers at this school relied on Meridian as their sole source of income. The concern of not being able to afford necessities due to missing wages, and the inability to claim redundancy support due to Neil Pick’s silence concerning the promised insolvency practitioner, is seriously impacting our mental health.

As a board member of Devon Mind, a charity centred on mental health, Neil Pick ironically refuses to communicate with his employees who have waited with patience, kindness, and empathy for answers.

We demand justice.” 

Finally, never let it be said that English teachers aren’t creative even in the face of adversity. Where Neil Pick offered silence, one teacher offered poetry:

Ode to Missing Wages

Two months’ wages, gone astray,
They promised, “Soon!” from day to day.
We taught, we smiled, we played our part,
Then watched the company fall apart.

The students learned, the teachers cared,
The bank accounts… well, they stayed bare.
Now all we ask, with less patient faces:

“Could someone please just pay our wages?”

Many have written, calm and polite,
asking, “Could you give us a timeline, if you might?”

But inboxes echo with nothing but silence,
Leaving uncertainty where there should be guidance.