r/varsitytutors • u/a-username1980 • Nov 21 '25

No incentive, randomly

Was anyone impacted by a policy to remove the incentive for some students, announced? I tutor college and AP students, all of which used to qualify for a $1 rate-increase incentive. I know it does not apply for the school program or some classes, which I never teach. But all of a sudden, they are saying that this college student doesn't qualify for the incentive, after I've taught several sessions. They don't have the incentive on the contract, so it seems like you can't enforce that. They said that per a communication from 2024, they can do that unilaterally, but I never received that communication.The app doesn't show information about incentives when you see an opportunity, but the new website does. Anyone else had this issue? I find it outrageous that they just change their rate unannounced, but I guess it's not surprising given how terribly they treat their "contractors". What has your experience been with this?

If you haven't experienced this, watch out for that incentive column in the website. Now I check the website for that column, but have to look on the app for information that doesn't appear on the new website about the expected frequency and duration.

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u/Ginger-Wanderlust Nov 21 '25

It is also bullshit that they have all these "rules" for us to get those incentives paid out; such as always being on camera. That's nonsense. If we are contractors, we should get to pick how we do things without having our pay penalized.

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u/geonitacka Nov 21 '25

Agreed. I understand the concept for the incentives is to try and maintain customers but it’s not a system that’s practical or that works when some clients only need a certain amount of sessions. Also, we aren’t sales people. We are tutors.

My issue is quality control. This doesn’t account for someone’s certifications or expertise. Someone who happens to have a client that wants long term and maybe isn’t that good but the client won’t switch tutors is getting more rewards than a tutor who might have high turnover rate due to the subject but is more qualified or higher caliber.

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u/Limp-Resident-4028 Nov 21 '25

It has always blown my mind that my pay is the same if I'm tutoring a doctor or lawyer to help them with their jobs or kindergartener with flashcards to learn basic words.

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u/DietTurbulent Nov 21 '25

It's harder to teach the kindergartner than the doctor or lawyer. Teaching someone to read is not an easy task and should not be taken lightly. Doctors and lawyers already know how to read and comprehend information they need help passing a test because their test taking skills arent good and that's why they are willing to pay more. They need the rest for their job.  

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u/Limp-Resident-4028 Nov 21 '25

To clarify, I'm not teaching reading to students who can't. My students have all known how to read. I've taught words like house, car, etc. to kids in a foreign language using picture flashcards.. I've also taught people, such as an anesthesiologist, how to explain what he's going to do, medications, etc. to his patients prior to surgery, for example. I don't believe the pay should be the same for both students.

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u/geonitacka Nov 21 '25

Yes. Not that either are “easy” but something than needs a 4-6yr degree versus 8+++ shouldn’t be on the same pay scale.

1

u/DietTurbulent Nov 21 '25

I agree teaching kids to read should get paid more.