[Allstaff] Teachers Wages - comment from Nick Davies

Mon Feb 18 01:45:18 GMT 2019

Dear James and all the other teachers.

Firstly, can I say that working with and for you is a real pleasure. 
There is a really nice family atmosphere at YMS that I really love. You 
are a very kind and lovely guy and you’re always the first to help out 
when someone is in crisis. YMS is unique and quirky and again that is 
something that appeals.
   Mortgages, however, are not quirky, friendly or flexible. Nor are 
bills or food bills. Nor is petrol money for cars or the repair bills 
that go with them. Nor are children’s clothes or family holidays.
   Your attitude towards paying your “talent” is extremely strange. I 
have never worked for an employer who has a first come/first served 
system for paying people. Or refers to a pecking order for payment. Or 
will pay part of the fee and make up the rest at a later date. Or varies 
wildly the day and date when people are paid. The last point is 
particularly problematic when having to pay mortgages and bills, but I 
have also lost count of the number of times I have had my debit card 
rejected at a supermarket. The is humiliating and embarrassing and, 
frankly, weird.
   You need to sort out the payment system so that everyone is paid at 
exactly the same time on the same day every month (may I suggest the 
last Wednesday or Friday of every month). This is standard proceedure, 
and the least requirement of an employer.
   If the IT people have yet to finish working on the new register 
system, put more money into it.
   If you are unable to deliver this, the question has to be asked, is 
the business viable?
   I know this is going to come across as a massive criticism and a slap 
in the face, but the reality is that many many of your teachers are 
extremely fed up with the situation and I really think you need to 
address this if you are not to lose talented people.
   I hope you are able to read this and know that I still have a great 
deal of respect for you and I thank you for all that you have done for 
me.
Nick Davies

On 2019-02-16 18:28, James Wilford wrote:
> Sorry, pressed send and didn't mean to......
> 
>  So, to update you all,
>  We have been through a very challenging time over the last 12-24
> months with overheads and cost of operations being quite high whilst
> pupils numbers were down plus retail being almost negligible these
> days. This used to play a significant part in paying for the overheads
> of the building. Chasing fees is still an issue despite new payment
> term etc. Going fully online for the processes is proving very
> expensive and time consuming too. The new IT people have done lots of
> work on this but it still can't go live.
>  However, to be more positive, numbers are massively up now and
> recruitment is going better than ever. There is a need for a few more
> teachers to join the crew in the near future. I would like any of you
> that have extra time available to expand your availability so we can
> fill up your schedules first, then new teachers can mop up the surplus
> work. We are marketing better than ever, dealing with the customer
> enquiries with a new system and trying hard to improve the overall
> customer experience. Please inform Max if you can expand your diary,
> he is now in full control of diary management.
>  I was very appreciative of some staff being flexible with payment
> times over recent months as cash flow is very hard at certain times of
> year. The new payment terms improve this at some times of year but
> have made it worse at others. The rent, rates and overheads have
> continually gone up, so we will have to make an increase to the lesson
> costs later in the year. I am also fully aware you would all like a
> pay rise too!!!
>  This is all in hand for later in 2019 and one of my plans moving
> forwards is to pay all small wages (less than £250 per month) and
> half of others by approx half way through the month, then the rest by
> the end of the month, if I need to split payments. I don't like to
> hold money in my bank if it can go to you all, which is why I do the
> split payment some times. It seems crazy to sit on a balance I can't
> use that can be more use to you than me. An average month's teachers
> fees is £20-25k and deciding the order to give it out is never easy
> or fair on people. Holding it all back till every penny is in seems
> pointless too.
>  I'll keep you updated on any other big changes as the year moves on.
> Happy to chat about anything as and when I see you all.
>  Have a good weekend.
> 
>  James
> 
>  James W. Wilford
> 
>  YMS Group of Companies - Managing Director
> 
>  Your Music School Canterbury
> 
>  Theatre Trips Kent
> 
>  YMS Travel
> 
>  Tower Works, Simmonds Road, Wincheap Estate,
> 
>  Canterbury, Kent CT1 3RA
> 
>  01227 456331 / 07778 446448
> 
>  https://uk.linkedin.com/in/james-wilford-70922a69
> 
>  BNI Member - Canterbury Chapter
> 
> -------------------------
> 
> FROM: Allstaff <allstaff-bounces at yourmusicschool.co.uk> on behalf of
> James Wilford <jwilford at ymsgroup.net>
> SENT: 16 February 2019 15:32
> TO: allstaff at yourmusicschool.co.uk
> SUBJECT: [Allstaff] Teachers Wages
> 
>  Hi All
> 
>  Just wanted to share some info with you all.
> 
>  So,
> 
>  James W. Wilford
> 
>  YMS Group of Companies - Managing Director
> 
>  Your Music School Canterbury
> 
>  Theatre Trips Kent
> 
>  YMS Travel
> 
>  Tower Works, Simmonds Road, Wincheap Estate,
> 
>  Canterbury, Kent CT1 3RA
> 
>  01227 456331 / 07778 446448
> 
>  https://uk.linkedin.com/in/james-wilford-70922a69
> 
>  BNI Member - Canterbury Chapter
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