Sincere question, answers welcome from boss-types and employee-types

[Merrida]

Let's say you work for a company. A large one. (That answers the question: Bottom line is all that matters, eh?)

You've done your grunt work. You've out lasted 30 trainers. The average length of time each client trains with you is 5 years (sometimes 2-3 x week, and sometimes 1-2 x month). Good retention.

Company gets bought out and institutes a policy: With NO help from management, membership consultants, etc., we are to achieve or exceed our quota each quota or we are canned. If we miss by one, we're canned.

If we reach quota 2 of the 3 months - we're canned.

They make no concessions or exceptions if, (in my case), my father died. He's Native American as well served in the Navy. That means that we don't get wake, funeral, buriel. There are multiple ceremonies that must be done and this means of the 12 week notice give us to meet/exceed quota, we're canned.

I have missed (due to religious obligations in part) a good part of this month. I am also due for maxilofacial surgery (bone grafts in my jaws, palate, a removal of a mass beneath my brain beneath my right sinus, blah blah blah). This means a series of surgeries, biopsies, and so forth.

Skip ahead, skip ahead, skip ahead.

I spoke to my boss who seemed to understand and for the first time in my life, I think he came to work in his human suit. It was unnerving. He said these came from the powers that be not him.

This month we've got the kids on vacation, couples taking holidays, etc. This means my 12 week death sentence is now 8-9 weeks to max quota.

Bust my ass is a nice way to put it but how, what techniques might be helpful if I needed to get 12 weeks done in 8 weeks? After that, I feel confident I'll be on my own just fine.

They care nothing for people's private lives, even if they're willing to make it up in any other capacity.

So what would be the official, NICE, friendly way to approach this that may give me a shot in hell.

If I didn't like my club and my clients so much I'd say frak it and get a new job. But I love my club.

Do I go above his head or will that piss him off? Any thoughts?

It isn't like I can count on deaths (which, by culture mean weeks of celebration,....Christian and Native American,...which regretably are diaposed in terms of how the body should be handled, but we won't go there).

Some thoughts?

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[Lady C]

I wouldn't be too quick to judge. Try to make your "quota" and if they can you then you have an excuse to look for a new job. Some things aren't meant to be.

It appears to me that you would be more suited in a Physical Therapy location rather than a gym, IMHO.

I can only speak for myself - I'd be out of there in a heart beat, but maybe that is why I'm self-employed. If you smell negative energy from the get-go, chances are it will be there today and tomorrow.

My other thought is that if your clients like you as much as you like them, they will probably follow you.

Be brave.

[Merrida]

Lady C and Pierini, thank you for the input. I guess my apprehension comes from how much value I've gotten from this God foresaken place. I put in my minimum time, admittedly. But, I love my clients, and if it weren't for this job in a wealthy club,...I would not have the home referrals I do. Home referrals I got working in less wealthy neighborhoods, the pay was half, or less. But these club clients who I train refer people to me for home training, and I get a pretty consistent flow of those referrals. I can make up to $150/hour,...and that makes me think that putting up with crap from the club is worth it.

Then I check,....how's the ulcer, how's the migraines, how's the anger and temper, and how's the frustration level of their bureaucratic red tape. I know it's weighing things out, good and bad, but it's also assigning a value to those good and bad qualities. They don't all equate the same.

I sound defensive like I want to stay, yet am looking for reasons to go. If I leave, one thing to bear in mind is,....well this is my biggest issue. Admittedly this club is prime. I've checked out other clubs in the area and they're well,....I wouldn't make as much, the hours are more constrictive, I have less say in my time.

That means make it work then, right? Or like Lady C mentioned,...maybe it's really a matter of changing fields.

This club makes it "seem" like being self-employed in that we get our own clients, we make our own hours, we take time off if we want it, schedule as we wish,...the only requirement they make is quota. We don't have to put in extra hours (unless we wish to do so because, as they say, for the potential of picking up new clients).

Doesn't this seem quasi-contradictory?

.I'd like to know what other trainer's situations are like across the country. I know some pay a monthly fee for "space" and the right to train. Some are required to put in x-amount of hours. Some are paid a %-fee. Some paid a flat fee.

Anyone else care to share what the market is like across this country?

One reason I ask is that within 2 years I may find myself moving to Florida.

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Originally Posted by Merrida

I can make up to $150/hour,...and that makes me think that putting up with crap from the club is worth it.

This is a favorite statement of prostitutes and strippers <ducking for cover>

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by pierini

This is a favorite statement of prostitutes and strippers <ducking for cover>

Shhhh! You promised not to tell anyone!

Last time I share a secret with you! Pffft!

.

[westside24]

Originally Posted by Merrida

Shhhh!

.

I would try to make quota, dont b!tch about it yet, and if you dont, and you still cant make reason with the guy, then yea, go over his head, you should have the right to speak to anyone in management doesnt matter how high or low on the totempole they are.

Let them know, you put in your time, and you have alot of clients!

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by westside24

I would try to make quota, dont b!tch about it yet, and if you dont, and you still cant make reason with the guy, then yea, go over his head, you should have the right to speak to anyone in management doesnt matter how high or low on the totempole they are.

Let them know, you put in your time, and you have alot of clients!

I actually am booking up pretty well but I'm going to be about 50 people shy of quota. I actually was thinking of going over his head if this doesn't work out,....but in the back of my mind I know he's probably pinched that resource. Gossip is never in short supply and a few trainers have already told me things he's said about me, behind my back, about not making quota, even though he was informed before-hand and during, about my need to take a leave. He doesn't care. Plain and simple.

This is a case where I think Lady C has it right that perhaps it isn't meant to be, and perhaps I also might persue something in the physical therapy line,...it seems to be a little bit more my forte (remotely).

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PS: Re: the pay, also it can be "up to" $150/hr. Of course, I should add that sometimes it's only $40/hr. Man it just really ranges, but it's all that "potential" that I see swirling down the johnson because one "fitness manager" has issues. He does quarterly reviews with NO warnings,...every trainer, if you do not make quota, regardless of reason, you're canned. That's why the turnover is soooooo high, and why my being there 5 or whatever years really does mean something. Not enough. And apparently just to me and my clients.

More sentiment, wrongly placed. Time to move on. Sadly.

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