I recently moved to Orange County, CA after the birth of my first child. I needed to find a new job so I applied to LA fitness in Irvine hoping to make my way into the personal training department since I’m studying for my CPT Exam. I was contacted for a sales counselor position instead and even though it wasn’t what I originally had in mind, the general manager assured me they would provide some training and thought I would be a good fit for the position. I want to be in the fitness industry to help people embrace a healthier lifestyle, since the gym has always been my safe space. So I explained that I’m working towards becoming a certified trainer but if sales is a way to get started in the company, then I’d definitely give it a try. I’ve been a customer of LA fitness for over 10 years now and went to gyms all over the country so I figured maybe it could work out.
On my first day I was left waiting in the front seating area for an entire hour before I was even acknowledged or given a desk to sit at. When I arrived, I told the front desk staff why I was there and was told to sit there and wait since the manager was on a conference call. After about 50 minutes of sitting, I walked outside to get some air and try and shake off the awkward feelings and anxiety. When I went back in 2 minutes later, I sat and waited another 10 minutes before finally being greeted. After a short introduction I was sat at a desk and told to watch hours of outdated and slightly offensive corporate training videos for the rest of the day. I was also told there was no break room or fridge so the food I brought for lunch was essentially a waste.
On my second day I walked in and greeted the front desk staff I had met the day before. Everyone seemed to be stressed out because some people from the Irvine corporate office were scheduled to visit the club. I tried to remain positive and started helping the front desk staff greet and check guests in since they were short staffed. When the first corporate manager entered, I greeted and checked their barcode in, and was complimented for the genuine greeting and warm welcome. For a moment I felt like this could be a really nice place to work. That all changed a few minutes later when I was called over for “training” with three other corporate managers who arrived and apparently have a reputation for rudeness. I tried to introduce myself and explained that this was my second day, but instead of smiles and a welcome I was met with serious frowns and told to grab a paper to take notes. The first manager who is apparently a VP for the personal training portion, was angry about their conversation rates so he decided to arrive with a script he forced everyone to promise him they would say. I sat there and witnessed him intimidate them and demanded each person say the words “I promise.” He even demanded the general manager raise his right hand and say the same. It was the most disgusting, disrespectful, and manipulative behavior I have ever seen in a business environment. During the meeting he said the words “you better say it this way, I don’t want to have to come back and put you in a headlock..” – maybe this was sort some of joke but it made me really uncomfortable and a little anxious. When it was my turn to ‘promise’ I asked him, what am I promising exactly? He then repeated his desired script as another manager spoke up and said “you guys have to say it this way to keep your job.”
Now at this point I feel not only discouraged, but intimidated, and it honestly makes me not even want to be a customer anymore. My safe space has been destroyed. I hadn’t really received any training and I was already put in a position to feel pressured and threatened with losing the job I just started. It made me feel terrible. I went back in to work today, as scheduled and explained how I felt about the entire meeting to the assistant general manager. I explained that I feel like the only value I’ve been able to add has been at the front desk greeting people, and that I no longer feel very comfortable working in sales if people speak to their employees in such a disrespectful way. He said if I wasn’t serious about sales, he didn’t want to waste his time training me and told me to just clock out and go home. He then clocked me out and I left.
I feel like the new job is over before it even began. By the way he shook my hand and said “good luck” as I left, I get the feeling I won't be asked to return. And honestly after the grossly unprofessional behavior I witnessed I don’t even want to be a customer anymore.
I posted this for legal advice and was told it isn't worth pursuing. Thank you SO much for any feedback, either way I'm grateful communities like this exist.