A truly unpleasant experience - werkgeversreview Business Language Trainer bij The Language Grid

1,0
3 jan 2025
Aanbevelen
Goedkeuring directeur
Zakelijk vooruitzicht

Pluspunten

Some lovely clients and opportunities to become involved in other projects. Also some great colleagues.

Minpunten

Wish I had taken note of some of the other reviews before applying. Staff turnover speaks for itself, with a median tenure shown on LinkedIn of only 1.8 years - shocking and way below industry average. A good question to ask is why. In my time there this was due to people leaving voluntarily. This speaks volumes. Many claims are made about cutting-edge technology, however a sluggish, outdated platform with video and basic chat function is like the dark ages compared to other online companies and not particularly user-friendly for trainers. It was so frustrating that clients often wished to switch to Teams. Maybe this is the cutting-edge tech to which they refer! Such a small client base after so many years was also rather strange, and with the high level of clients cancelling classes across the board it seemed rather odd. Trainers were blamed for cancellations, however, when all trainers were experiencing these and being forced to teach in a set way from set materials, maybe there is an issue elsewhere. Or maybe it was our fault, and we were all, without exception, terrible trainers. What seems most likely? In my view, professionalism seemed to take second place to personal feelings, and running a business where decisions and communication seemed emotion-led or done with a knee-jerk reaction seems rather worrying and also incredibly unpleasant for trainers. Communication seemed to swing between over the top remarks and affection to silence and being given the cold shoulder. To me, it felt more like a toxic relationship than a workplace. Leaving the company was the best decision I have made as treading on eggshells was no way to spend my working life.

avatar
Reactie van The Language Grid
12mo
Thank you for your feedback. We're pleased you found value in our clients and colleagues, but we're disappointed that your experience didn’t reflect the standards we set and truly sorry you feel we don't communicate well. That is something we will try to improve even more. To clarify for future readers: our trainer cancellation rate sits at 12%, well below industry averages of around 25%. Importantly, all trainers are paid for cancellations, regardless of how far in advance they occur. To our knowledge, we are the only company in our space that guarantees this level of income stability. We pay for availability, not just delivery, because we believe in respecting our trainers’ time. As for client cancellations, we take them seriously because we want our training to be seen as essential, not optional. That’s why we investigate patterns and feedback. It’s not about assigning blame, it’s about delivering consistently high value. Our platform is custom-built to support our methodology. Some clients prefer external tools like Teams, and we’re happy to accommodate that. Many, however, appreciate the simplicity and clarity of our system. We are again sorry that you did not enjoy the experience and will continue to invest to improve it. On Trainer turnover: the figure displayed on LinkedIn is currently 2.4 years, not 1.8, and is skewed by spam accounts incorrectly associating with our profile, something we are actively addressing with LinkedIn. We are a niche company, and when comparing across the correct segment—native English-speaking business English trainers, not SaaS plug-in platforms—the figures look very different. We encourage anyone genuinely interested to reach out to current team members for a clearer picture. Finally, we’re a small, high-performance team by design. That won’t suit everyone. We wish you all the best in environments better aligned with your preferences. Zoe Flaherty, CEO

Ontdek andere reviews over The Language Grid

1,0
22 aug 2019
Aanbevelen
Goedkeuring directeur
Zakelijk vooruitzicht

Pluspunten

The program is innovative, all digital, trainers don't write lesson plans, all the resources are there. Students are great and you don't have to find them yourselves. Room to take on side projects are available.

Minpunten

Management team of sycophants who encourage gossip/rumours. Reviews are unprofessional and emotion-driven. Gaslighting and manipulation definitely outweigh the pros.

3
avatar
Reactie van The Language Grid
6y
Thanks for taking the time to share your opinion of The Language Grid. We appreciate all feedback, whether positive or constructive. I couldn't agree more that one of the best things about working for TLG is the benefit of using a state-of-the-art digital platform to deliver our courses. Teachers have a fantastic work/life balance and don't ever have to work on lesson prep during their own time. Our students are committed professionals, often experts in their field, and our team of dedicated trainers becomes their trusted advisors. While avoiding interpersonal conflict entirely can be impossible in such a dynamic and growing organisation, we strive to create a positive working environment in which our trainers feel supported and nurtured. The results of our most recent staff survey (conducted in July 2019) show we are definitely doing something right - 90% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement "I am treated fairly at TLG" and 95% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement "TLG is a great place to work".
1,0
29 apr 2025
Aanbevelen
Goedkeuring directeur
Zakelijk vooruitzicht

Pluspunten

Flexible working hours. Opportunity to meet clients from diverse backgrounds. Remote work setup can be convenient if you're looking for location independence.

Minpunten

Work Environment: The culture feels toxic, rooted in fear, micromanagement, and favoritism. Constructive feedback can be met with defensiveness from management. Poor Management: Leadership lacks professionalism and basic organizational skills. There's no clear communication, support, or transparency. Decisions are often erratic and based on personal bias rather than performance or merit. No Growth or Stability: High turnover is normalized. Lack of Respect: Teachers are not treated with respect or appreciation. You're expected to go above and beyond constantly without any genuine or sincere recognition or support.

3
avatar
Reactie van The Language Grid
12mo
Thank you for your feedback, though we’re sorry to read your comments. While every experience is valid, this does not reflect the culture or structure of The Language Grid. We have been recognised as a Best Place to Work for two consecutive years, and the majority of our team, including trainers, have been with us for over four years. Our turnover is low, and we’re proud of the respectful, high-performing culture we’ve built. All new trainers go through a structured onboarding and mentoring process, including trial sessions, peer support, and one-on-one guidance. We also hold annual face-to-face conferences to connect, grow, and share best practices. In your case, unfortunately, your trial period did not result in a permanent position, as we hold a very high standard for professionalism, delivery, and communication. We understand this may have felt disappointing, and we wish you all the best in your future roles. Zoe Flaherty, CEO
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