what would you do?

[texasred]

I need some advice... I started teaching at a brand new club at the end of the year. I understand that it would take about a month or so to get the schedule worked out, etc. I teach more than Spinning there as well. One of my classes (BodyPump) I taught in the morning was cancelled due to low attendance. Ok, fine. Then the instructor who taught BodyPump immediately after my 6pm Spinning class was constantly asking me to sub for her - no problem. Eventually she quit and I taught it permanately. Also I seem to be the instructor who is always called to the rescue to sub other classes. And I sub them.
Recently the yoga class that is held in the room next door to the spinning studio and the other exercise room complained the music was to loud coming from other classes. So, the Director moved my BodyPump class to a later time (by 30 minutes) and gave it to another instructor. No reason, never asked if I wanted to teach it, just POOF! I was no longer teaching it. So now over the course of the last 2 months I have gone from teaching this class in the morning, no longer teaching it, then teaching it in the evening, then no longer teaching it. Now today I get an email asking me to sub for yet another instructor for the next month (completely different day and time) oh and BTW the would you take your BodyPump class back because the instructor can't make it here at that time anymore, the class can even be moved back to its original time.
This whole situation seems unprofessional to me and has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I want my class back, but at the same time I feel like just saying, "You've jerked me around to much, you're on your own."
What would you do in this situation.

[jcharry]

Can you say "inconsiderate"? Wow! You actually WANT to work for these people?

I'm not entirely clear about who is asking you to sub - management or another instructor? If management is yanking you around like that, it will probably continue to happen and you have to wonder if it's worth the frustration you're likely to have to put up with. It's frustrating to see that the "good deeds" you do don't seem to accrue to any beneficial consideration by management. Are there any benefits (other than pay) to teaching classes at this gym? Are the facilities better than other places? Is the membership larger and active? Do you love working out there?

I would probably go ahead and take the class if I really wanted to teach it, but I would mention that what happened before was something that I wouldn't want to happen again. And if it happened again after that, I would cut ties.

~Judi

[spinnergirl]

:? oh boy Tex, do I feel for you !

I used to be jerked around at a club I work at.. they were unprofessional (still are a bit though, but it's the only club close in my area ).
What sort of did it for me, was to not be available for a while to sub, and then having a talk with the person making these bad decisions. (I used to be sooo available to sub for everybody , they took it for granted)
Sometimes, they are so pressured, they don't even realize they are jerking you around !
So try sitting down and see what happens? :wink:
let them know the facts you stated to us, let them also know it leaves you with a bad taste, and you might not be so happy to teach there after a while, and you surely don't want it to reflect in your classes...
let us know what happens ! good luck !

[texasred]

I'm not entirely clear about who is asking you to sub - management or another instructor?
Both.

Are there any benefits (other than pay) to teaching classes at this gym? Are the facilities better than other places? Is the membership larger and active? Do you love working out there?
Answering in order:
Not really, other than when I started I thought it would be great to get in on the ground floor, so to speak, with a brand new facility.
The facility is awesome, but it is also brand new.
The membership continues to grow leaps and bounds. There is now other gym, health club, etc. around. It is a booming community that was just screaming for something to open - they got it with this brand new YMCA.
I did love working there, but I'm having to re-evalute that now.

[bluenoser]

Hey Red . . . I feel for ya . . . and I hesitate to give specific advice not knowing the receptiveness of your Director, who seems to be the person I would go to "if it were me." Similar to what my Canadian friend said to you, it could be that your Director is so involved in what she/he is doing she isn't seeing your perspective, even though we wish that all people on our management teams had that ability.

If it were me and if I felt like my Director were approachable, I would be honest (and chosing language and nonverbals wisely) and (after choosing an appropriate time and place) say "Wow, its sure seems like the pump class has been moved around alot lately. That must be frustrating for you to try to please everyone. I think you know that you can count on me to help out when I can--I've subbed that class, taken it over, been dropped from it, and have gone with the flow of change. I need you to know that being asked to take a class and then having it taken away from me takes a lot out of me: I love the class, I think I have a good rapport with the members and it would be difficult to lose it again. I'd enjoy teaching it again, . . . Can you talk to me about the likelihood of this schedule staying consistent?"

I guess it comes down to how important the class is to you. If it is, go to bat for yourself, talk to your director. If it isn't, do as others have suggested and let it go . . . let them find someone else to teach it--it isn't your problem.

[spinnerpom]

I love how Janet always gets right at the way to communicate something.

Here's my thing with subbing. When someone asks, and I'm available, and it's not going to really screw up my schedule, I always make an effort to do it. Because what goes around, comes around, and I figure eventually I'll need a sub and hope someone will help me out. And that's pretty much been the case for me.

If your schedule is flexible enough that they can move these classes around and you can still do them, then they have no reason to not move them unless you put your foot down. And maybe it's as simple as "I will always try to make myself available when subs are needed, but I'm sure you understand that I need my schedule to be just that...a schedule."

Sara

[jala3]

Great advise Janet!! Good luck to you Tex. You mentioned that it is a new club so hopefully the kinks are just being worked out. I started with a new club also and now after 1yr things seem to be running so much better.

[Cheeze]

Red it's up to you to determine if you are going to stay on that gerbil wheel or if it is time to get off. What you describe is very common in the fitness industry. Club managers do what ever they can to keep their members happy and get a class covered - usually at the expense of their instructors. And just when you think everything is running smoothly the less committed underpaid instructor does not feel the class time is worth the effort or going as well as they would like - and bails.

From what you described I feel you have shown this club and it's managment you are willing to do your share. But no one wants to be taken advantage of. Your manager will not know how you feel unless you tell them. So sit down with your manager (at a place/time when they have time to listen to you) and tell them how you feel and what you want. And if you leave that meeting with a positive feeling - stay. If not I recommend you hit the road. Trust me. The members get tired of all the charges too.

Just my slice of Cheeze

[texasred]

Hey Y'all, thanks for all of your suggestions. I took note of them all and talked to my director. I'm giving it one more shot - but that's it.

Blue - I really used your suggestions and told her very matter of factly just as you said. She was understandable and although I am not getting both the Monday and Wednesday class back, I am getting the Monday class back. We will see how this goes.

Pom - I really stressed to her how I needed to have a schedule as you suggested. She said she would do her best not to move it around anymore.

Cheeze - you are right about the members not being thrilled with the schedule changes either. Yet ANOTHER change in a 2 week time period will have them complaining I can hear it now...

[hammertime]

Red,
glad to hear you took the bull by the horns and spoke to the Director. I hope the class works out for you this time around and you are shown the consideration you justly deserve.

As an aside, keep in the back of your mind for future reference: No matter how stressed a director is, no matter how much pressure they have to make their program a success, there is absolutely NO excuse for pulling a class from an instructor and giving it to someone else without an explanation why the change needs to take place.

[spinbomb]

I just recently experienced something similar. We have a sub who will bend over backwards to cover for us. I usually call her as a last resort because the members generally complain when she teaches. She is a very well respected instructor in our community. She held a higher position in our organization before cutting back hours to take care of family. At many of our facilities she is considered a GREAT instructor and was even asked to be the trainer when we switched to our own program. However, we do things differently. We are very into coaching where as her idea of motivating is screaming at the members. She is very much into aerobics and teaches like it. We are pretty heavy on the cycling aspect. Repeatedly, I call in a bind and she helps out. Finally she asks me to put her in a position that has low attendance. Yes, I need to do something with the time slot but this instructor does not fit into the goals of our facility. I was direct and tried to give her some constructive feedback. She said she prefers to yell rather than use the mic and that she agreed her STYLE was different but alot of people like her style. She further stated that she had been teaching alot longer than some of our instructors and she was very comfortable with her style. She reminded me that she was asked to be the trainer of all our instructors. We teach ez she is not interested. I dont get the impression that this is someone who will be a good addition to our team so I stick with the instructor with low attendance until I can find someone who is a better fit. I wonder how she would describe this situation though. I'm sure she feels treated unfairly. She is a wonderful, professional person. I consider her a friend. I still dont' think she is a good fit for us.
I'm not saying that this is the situation with you. Just offering up that there are often things going on that you may not be aware of. does this director think you are not a good fit for the club or time slot? Do you get frustrated and complain to the members? Do you work well with the other instructors? Do you build strong relationships with the members? The director has the responsibility to let you know.

[texasred]

does this director think you are not a good fit for the club or time slot?
The time slot was moved first in the morning due to lack of attendance. Eventually the class was cancelled, on that note other classes (other than spinning) didn't work in the early am either. Then the BodyPump class in the evening was moved due to the noise interferring with the yoga class in the studio next door. I couldn't teach at that time slot, because I was teaching spinning at the same time. Then the same bodypump class was moved to a later time because the members complained about the new time being too early. The director always asks me to take on more spinning classes or bodypump classes that are (for example) on the weekends. I can't fit those classes into my schedule. I don't think being a "good fit" for the club or time slot was ever the issue. She never expressed it as being one.

Do you get frustrated and complain to the members?
No. My only comment to members was purely the facts, the class time is being changed due to the noise affecting the yoga class. I would however tell them I do enjoy teaching this bodypump class and wish I still were. If anyone asked me why I'm not teaching it at its new time slot I just tell them I wasn't asked.

Do you work well with the other instructors? As far as I know I do. This doesn't really apply to me, I hardly ever come in contact with other instructors. I'm the only one there at the time my class starts and when I leave the other instructors are in the middle of teaching their class.

Do you build strong relationships with the members?
I am trying. Being a new club, I still find the members haven't "settled in" to their own time slots. In my spinning class which has remained in the same time slot since the opening I have my regulars. those regulars were following me from class t class. Unfortunately being bounced around from class to class in the bodypump class it is a bit harder. Although I make myself available to them and interact with them even if I am just subbing a class.

[spinbomb]

Hey Tex, I really think this person needs to communicate better. This must be frustrating for you. I'm glad you took the high road and spoke with her. If in the future she does not treat you similarly I would find another place to work. I"m guessing you're not getting rich doing this so you might as well enjoy it! I am fortunate to work with people who are like family to me. I love our instructor team. However, I have worked many places where I was shocked at how the director treated instructors. It always seemed to be an insecure woman and an attractive younger instructor. Are you a hottie?
Seriously, be your best and demand respect. :P