The main question to ask about class cancellations is are you, the teacher, paid?

The general rule in Madrid English classes is that a class cancelled less than 24 hours before the class is due to start (what I call a "late" cancellation) is billable and the teacher is paid. If you are teaching for a school that doesn't pay you for late cancellations, then I suggest you should look for a new employer.

Late cancellations are rarely a problem with group classes. The chances of all the students in a group canceling late is minimal. But with individual classes, especially managers and directors, it can be a regular occurrence.

Teachers' incomes are quite low anyway, so losing money due to class cancellations should be minimised. If the class is cancelled late, then you're paid, so great, stay in bed or go out to lunch and enjoy it! If a student regularly cancels the class late, then be aware that the class may be cut as companies don't like to pay for classes they are not receiving.

The big problem for teachers is when a student regularly cancels classes more than 24 hours in advance. This means that you, the teacher, are not paid for the class. This is particularly annoying when the class is at a high-demand time such as lunchtimes or mornings Monday to Thursday.

In this situation, most teachers quit the class and take another one. And then the client wonders why there is such a high turnover in teachers! One way to avoid quitting the class is to ask your boss to give you a minimum payment for the classes. This means that you will be paid a minimum of say, 80% , of the classes. If you give more than 80% of the classes in a given month, then you get paid for all of them. If you give less than 80% of the classes, then you are paid for 80% of the classes anyway. This at least guarantees you most of the income from the classes, even if you actually give very few classes!