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So I might lose a job... Story time.

Iridemtb

Turbo Monkey
Feb 2, 2007
1,497
-1
Well here's the lowdown guys. I am in college, and am a personal trainer making money basically for books, gas, school, some food, clothing and when the opportunity can be afforded motocross and my downhill bike.

So I got a job at a local steakhouse where I know several people who rake in over $100 nightly. I am a personable person and work harder than a lot I would say, so I think I can be equally as successful. I am not making that much at the gym and make whatever schedule I want. So I talked to my boss, told him I am working somewhere else part time and am cutting down from six days to 2-3 days in a week and a half. He said next week you better be here the full time or else you're fired (WHICH BY THE WAY I DO MAKE MY OWN HOURS AND SCHEDULE WEEKLY and edit it according to how I see fit).

So to make a long story short... I discussed this with all 45+ clients of mine, and they understand and are willing to work with me. My boss is a douche however, and everyone knows it. So even though my clients are fine, he wants to fire me. So I am calling the regional training manager to see if I can transfer to a nearby gym of the same chain (LA Fitness) and work there perhaps, possibly dragging cliental with me.

Guess we'll see what happens. You guys always have stories to follow, so I have one for you guys lol.
 

Iridemtb

Turbo Monkey
Feb 2, 2007
1,497
-1
I don't know. I have had some decent ones, all of my three other jobs so far I have left on good terms, and I hope to be able to do the same here if it comes down to it. I have been on time and have only given good service. I feel like I am getting screwed a little.
 

?????

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2005
1,678
2
San Francisco
probably your boss heard that you don't care about this job very much anymore and there are other people more desperate for your job.
 

Iridemtb

Turbo Monkey
Feb 2, 2007
1,497
-1
probably your boss heard that you don't care about this job very much anymore and there are other people more desperate for your job.
Well, I do like my job, I actually look forward to it daily when I am going into work, so he didn't hear that. I would walk out if I didn't like it so much, but I would also like to use this as a reference if I can get out nicely.

Either way, I will leave nicely if needed, I need to be the bigger guy I think, this guy is a douche. He is engaged and cheats on his fiance' who he told me he is with because she is hot and makes 150 g's a year, he is 40 years old and used to box and wanted to fight a co-worker my age out back when he fired him, he will tell anyone anything to sell them a gym membership or training membership and he will throw anyone under the bus as long as his wallet benefits. The guy has money, but he is all about himself. I may be young, but maybe I can still be an example that will stick in his head if I left nicely.

I might also do my own training, I have two pretty decent certifications. We'll, I have already talked to clients that said they want to leave and train with me if I leave. Lol.
End of rant.
 
Last edited:

dante

Unabomber
Feb 13, 2004
8,807
9
looking for classic NE singletrack
Well, I do like my job, I actually look forward to it daily when I am going into work, so he didn't hear that. I would walk out if I didn't like it so much, but I would also like to use this as a reference if I can get out nicely.

Either way, I will leave nicely if needed, I need to be the bigger guy I think, this guy is a douche. He is engaged and cheats on his fiance' who he told me he is with because she is hot and makes 150 g's a year, he is 40 years old and used to box and wanted to fight a co-worker my age out back when he fired him, he will tell anyone anything to sell them a gym membership or training membership and he will throw anyone under the bus as long as his wallet benefits. The guy has money, but he is all about himself. I may be young, but maybe I can still be an example that will stick in his head if I left nicely.
Find competing gym in town. Go there and take your client base with you. Then send a little anonymous email to hot fiance, and see if you can get in on some retribution sex...
 

Riding

Monkey
Dec 19, 2006
545
0
Millis, MA
Maybe you should re-evaluate you employment position at the gym. Sounds like you are probably underpaid for what you are doing. Is there anyway to get some certifications and do the training on your own? I know several PTs that work in multiple gyms.

I know I've never pulled the trigger on a personal trainer because of the expense, so where is that $ going? My guess is that your boss is making a lot of money on you. If I were him, I wouldn't want you to quit either. Maybe you should do the math and come up with a few plans.
 

Mr Jones

Turbo Monkey
Nov 12, 2007
1,475
0
Find competing gym in town. Go there and take your client base with you. Then send a little anonymous email to hot fiance, and see if you can get in on some retribution sex...
:rofl: ^^ THIS!!!

If you like your job and can get a lateral transfer, than leave it at that. If not, do the above.

I've had a few awesome bosses. Also had 2 horrible bosses whom I still gave 2 weeks notice and tried to take the high road. References are gold especially in this day and age. If you do resign, make a very specific yet professionally worded resignation letter and retain a copy of it in case the HR of your new job has a question of why you resigned.
 

drkenan

anti-dentite
Oct 1, 2006
3,441
1
west asheville
I am not making that much at the gym and make whatever schedule I want. So I talked to my boss, told him I am working somewhere else part time and am cutting down from six days to 2-3 days in a week and a half. He said next week you better be here the full time or else you're fired (WHICH BY THE WAY I DO MAKE MY OWN HOURS AND SCHEDULE WEEKLY and edit it according to how I see fit).

Are you an independent contractor or an employee of the gym?
 

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,520
7,069
Colorado
You're in California. Unless you are under an at-will contract he needs reason to fire you.

In the interim, go to all of the competing local gyms and ask about doing fitness training at their gyms. There are a few guys locally that I know of, who do training at 5-6 gyms with clients at each one. They pay a monthly fee to the gym for access and to cover the training.

Once you have this setup, let all of your clients know that you are going to be expanding your business to multiple gyms but will be leaving your current gym to do so. If they really like you, you should be able to transfer their business.

If you have people (mostly women I would assume) who do basic light weight and workouts with the rubber bands, put the effort in to get what you need. Once you have the equipment, you can do outdoor 1-1 training with them. Find local parks with large stair sets, pull-up bars, etc. use the free stuff for your gym. Maybe you can look into starting a boot camp? I have many friends who started with a 1-1 trainer, only to move to their morning or evening boot camp workouts.

Just make sure to keep getting your licenses, look into the business licenses you will need and maybe talk to a CPA about what you can write-off as business expenses. You would be an independent contractor, so there is a lot you would need to look into.
 

Iridemtb

Turbo Monkey
Feb 2, 2007
1,497
-1
The issue is there aren't any competing gyms around here. There are three within the area, one is a planet fitness, which I might ask about training there. Another gym in the area I have gotten a job offer from to work there and develop cliental, however the gym has limited equipment for use at my disposal. The third gym I believe I would need a 2 or 4 year degree to train at, and it is not priced competitively.

I might drop some money on some weight lifting gear (bosu balls, weights, bands etc), but we'll have to see if it's in my budget.

I just called human resources about it. We will have to see how this turns out, my VP in the area is going to contact me.
 

?????

Turbo Monkey
Jun 20, 2005
1,678
2
San Francisco
Either way, I will leave nicely if needed, I need to be the bigger guy I think, this guy is a douche. He is engaged and cheats on his fiance' who he told me he is with because she is hot and makes 150 g's a year, he is 40 years old and used to box and wanted to fight a co-worker my age out back when he fired him, he will tell anyone anything to sell them a gym membership or training membership and he will throw anyone under the bus as long as his wallet benefits. The guy has money, but he is all about himself. I may be young, but maybe I can still be an example that will stick in his head if I left nicely.
This sounds like every other guy that works at a gym. Congrats on not being him.
 

Sandwich

Pig my fish!
Staff member
May 23, 2002
21,031
5,921
borcester rhymes
wait, so somebody who works at a gym is a douchebag? I've never heard that before. I bet he drives a sensible car, like a camry, in beige.
 

TheMontashu

Pourly Tatteued Jeu
Mar 15, 2004
5,549
0
I'm homeless
You're in California. Unless you are under an at-will contract he needs reason to fire you.
No true, CA is an at-will employment state, they can fire you for any reason any time, that's why it's so easy to collect unemployment. I took a "work experience" class so I could be at school less in high school and learned all the labor laws.
 

CrabJoe StretchPants

Reincarnated Crab Walking Head Spinning Bruce Dick
Nov 30, 2003
14,163
2,484
Groton, MA
No true, CA is an at-will employment state, they can fire you for any reason any time, that's why it's so easy to collect unemployment. I took a "work experience" class so I could be at school less in high school and learned all the labor laws.
Probably why you're taking calculus in college.
 

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,647
1,116
NORCAL is the hizzle
No true, CA is an at-will employment state, they can fire you for any reason any time, that's why it's so easy to collect unemployment. I took a "work experience" class so I could be at school less in high school and learned all the labor laws.
No way! The 'shoo just took The Joker to school!! And he's right! Unless you have an employment agreement saying you can't be fired without a reason, you can be fired in California any time with or without cause.
 

stoney

Part of the unwashed, middle-American horde
Jul 26, 2006
21,520
7,069
Colorado
No way! The 'shoo just took The Joker to school!! And he's right! Unless you have an employment agreement saying you can't be fired without a reason, you can be fired in California any time with or without cause.
You're in California. Unless you are under an at-will contract he needs reason to fire you.
TheMontashu said:
No true, CA is an at-will employment state, they can fire you for any reason any time, that's why it's so easy to collect unemployment. I took a "work experience" class so I could be at school less in high school and learned all the labor laws.
See what that says there? That's the same exact thing - you need to be at-will to be fired for no reason.

Reading comprehension > mooshu and OG
 

TheMontashu

Pourly Tatteued Jeu
Mar 15, 2004
5,549
0
I'm homeless
See what that says there? That's the same exact thing - you need to be at-will to be fired for no reason.

Reading comprehension > mooshu and OG
I read that dude, and what I'm saying is random schmuck at retail job A falls into that, and kid at gym B falls into that. There is no clause in the contract making it at all, it's just always at will employment.

http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/20345/careers_and_job_hunting/california_at_will_employment_statute.html

No contract means you are employed at will.
 

OGRipper

back alley ripper
Feb 3, 2004
10,647
1,116
NORCAL is the hizzle
See what that says there? That's the same exact thing - you need to be at-will to be fired for no reason.

Reading comprehension > mooshu and OG
Thanks, but not really. You said you need to be under an at-will contract. You don't need a contract to be an at-will employee.

You are an at-will employee by default unless you have an agreement to the contrary. Maybe that's what you meant, but it's not what you said.

Anyway, this thread should have been over after Dante's winning post. :thumb:
 

Beef Supreme

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2010
1,434
73
Hiding from the stupid
Are you an independent contractor or an employee of the gym?
This is the key question in this whole thread.

Setting your own schedule is one of the most important factors in determining if someone is an independent contractor or an employee. The tax penalties for blurring that distinction are harsh. I would imagine the corporate office would be very concerned if that were happening.
 

Iridemtb

Turbo Monkey
Feb 2, 2007
1,497
-1
Employee of the gym, however I might just run my own thing eventually here and do a "I'll train you at your house service". I don't think I would have to pay for insurance if I worked with people I am closer with (maybe that's foolish, insight?)

So today I called corporate and talked to human resources. Problem solved. He told me if it was his place, I would be fired. Get to keep the job!