I’ve worked as a teacher on Cambly for a few years, and I can confidently say that this platform is deeply exploitative. Cambly takes advantage of the desperation of many educated tutors and teachers, who are often in difficult financial situations. These tutors, desperate for any form of income, end up accepting wages that are far below the legal minimum in many countries.In my experience, Cambly pays its tutors a pittance — as low as $0.17 per minute or $6 per class. This is barely enough to cover the cost of a cup of coffee, let alone pay bills or live decently. And it’s not just about the low pay. There’s no holiday pay, no sick pay, and no insurance. You’re classified as an independent contractor, so Cambly avoids any responsibility for benefits or labor protections. This is their justification for paying below minimum wage, but the reality is that many tutors have no choice but to accept these conditions because they rely on this income.Despite these challenges, I had the pleasure of working with some fantastic students — many of whom were truly a highlight of my time with Cambly. But it’s difficult to reconcile the rewarding moments with the harsh realities of being paid so little. Tutors are often at the mercy of technical glitches, no-shows, and last-minute cancellations, all of which further reduce our earnings. If a student cancels the day before, the tutor doesn’t get paid. If a student shows up just to apologize for not attending, the tutor is only paid $1, even though they were ready to work.After years of struggling on this platform, I’m finally leaving Cambly for a new job that pays almost three times what I was earning there. It’s a huge relief. I wish I could take back the years I spent working on Cambly, particularly during my 20s when I could have been building a more secure and fulfilling career.To students: Please be aware that the tutors you love are being paid far below what they deserve, and they are likely working under stress, struggling with the platform’s many flaws. Cambly, like many other similar platforms, preys on those who are financially vulnerable and willing to accept exploitative terms. I hope that one day, these companies are held accountable for the harm they do to their workers.
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