I Was Fired from a Fitness Studio for Not Being Active Enough

[ctian25]

Hey there!

I’ve been a lurker for a while here, and never felt moved to post until today. I think I just need some perspective.

I used to work part time for a boutique fitness studio. I’d come in after my 9-5 job to work the front desk, fold towels, etc. I’d taken the classes a few times, but because they weren’t free to employees I couldn’t afford a package. Furthermore, I figured I was there to earn money, not buy the product.

A few months went by and the owner and director of operations got a quick dinner with me between classes. They asked me about my fitness life, what I like, if I’m a member of any other studios and listed groups such as Barre, Cross Fit, the November Project, etc. I opened up about how fitness wasn’t a thing growing up, so it’s been hard for me to learn that kind of accountability as a full-fledged adult. I never did sports, my parents and siblings don’t work out - I’ve been learning from scratch. But, I explained that I’m a member of a box gym and go take care of business there.

The next day, I was asked to come in for a “chat.” The director of operations broke the news that I was being let go, and explained that I wasn’t doing enough to be involved in the fitness community. I didn’t fit the fitness culture they were looking for in employees. To me, it was clear that I wasn’t active enough.

To say I was hurt is an understatement. As someone who’s thin, but still insecure about my fitness, I was mortified. I then realized that them asking me about my workouts wasn’t out of genuine interest - it was fishing to see if I fit the bill. I felt stupid about opening up to them, and I was furious that they used my own words against me after confiding in them.

Today it hit me how much this affected my life. I was just invited to the November Project and was excited about going with a group. Then it hit me that they might be there - and all the insecurities came back. I’m almost scared to run into them while working out. And come to think of it, I haven’t been to the gym since being fired. Trying something and being told it wasn’t good enough just crushed me.

I don’t really know how to come back from this. Any perspective would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[bevinluvwithjesus]

@ctian25 Check your contract if it was inside the probation period then there is nothing you can do if outside then you have grounds for complaint.

 

[bevinluvwithjesus]

@ctian25 This makes no sense to me. You can’t fire someone without giving them several warnings and a proper reason! What the o.p does in her spare time is none of their business. O.p needs to get a letter from them out lining why they are firing her causing loss of earnings. Takes this to free legal aid organisation for sure!

 

[akashraletta]

@bevinluvwithjesus In America, in nearly every state you can be fired at any time for any reason as long as it isn't a protected class (race, religion, etc.) She has no recourse whatsoever.

 

[bevinluvwithjesus]

@akashraletta Wow. That's bad, not the case in many european countries, after probation period you must give warnings verbal then written then a solid reason for dismissal.

 

[akashraletta]

@bevinluvwithjesus Welcome to America, where the employers don't care about the employees and half the country thinks that's the way it should be!

 

[ryanchamp]

@ctian25 That kind of thing is normal, even expected at fitness businesses. The first thing I had to do at my last fitness job was loose weight, I’d basically been on a permanent bulk for years chasing strength PR’s. I looked like a cuddly teddy, but they needed a guy in beast mode not bear mode.

BUT

Nutritional programmes, classes, workout programmes and use of facilities were all free, not to mention the option of training with any of my colleagues and asking any and all questions I had. Also this was all discussed prior to my taking the job. I specifically said my weakness was diet and I needed to lose fat.

It’s one thing to hold a person working in the fitness industry to a standard of fitness, that’s absolutely necessary. It’s another entirely to deny them employee discounts given that workout classes are basically “staff training” and if they are mandatory then the business should foot the bill.

 

[musalala]

@ryanchamp Idk why you got a downvote. This is fair. Your company is quite a good place to work btw

 

[ryanchamp]

@musalala It was the best. I wish I still worked there.

 

[stmheath7]

@ctian25 Hang on is this legal? They hired you in the first place knowing who you are? You can’t just fire someone because they don’t work out how you like or to their standard?! I don’t go to a lot of my work social events because of depression and anxiety, if anyone fired me over it I’d be looking for an employment lawyer.

Edit:I see you’re in the US...sorry. For...well...everything.

 

[bubblegum2021]

@ctian25 Ok, you are kind of not telling the entire story though (there are some things you said in a reply and were not included in the OP)? So let's sum it up:

• boutique gym shows up in town, they are new, they just hire who they can;
  
• after a while, business starts working well, so they now afford to invest more in their image, including front desk person;
  
• they want to know if you are interested in fitness; not exactly their classes, just fitness, at all. anything?
  
• you're like neah, I'm fine, no fitness for me, my parents didn't like it, you know? (to be honest, that's a stupid excuse; you are an adult, make your choices, don't blame your lifestyle on your parents. there are plenty of people who got into fitness as adults after a lifetime of being sedentary and not knowing anything about fitness);
  
• they fire you and it's unfair because you are thin (???)
  

Now knowing all that, maybe those employers were not the worst, most horrible people in the world. Maybe you just did not show the dedication they expected. You also show no interest in taking up fitness, improving yourself and generally growing together with the business. For me, all these sound like fair reasons for dismissals. You should keep in mind, for your future job, having a job, being good at it and being appreciated for it takes more than just show up and do the bear minimum.

 

[vavas]

@ctian25 I was also previously let go from a part-time job. The explanation I received was that it was not a cultural fit, despite that I had been there more than a year.

My only advice is to let go of that emotional weight as quickly as possible. Because you’re right, you’re there to earn money, not to buy product. That company is clearly looking for people who are going to spend their paycheck there.

 

[ladyvelvet]

@ctian25 I hope you do run into them and I hope you find it in yourself to be fierce!

You got this!

 

[dawn16]

@ctian25 Are you Abbey from Broad City?

 

[jeremias]

@ctian25 Gosh this makes me glad Australia has robust wrongful dismissal laws. If its not in the job description then they had no right to expect you to spend your own money there.

 

[tibs]

@ctian25 Wow! I used to be the GM of a gym and would never do that. I’m sorry that happened to you! Sounds like a snobby studio.

 

[jdeds]

@ctian25 I'm sorry this happened to you, it's ridiculous that they would hire you and then spring this on you after a few months. If they'd wanted a fitness buff, that's what they should have hired in the first place, so to spring it on you is complete bullshit. They're asshats and honestly, it's better that you're not there. Life is far too short to spend time working for people like that.

I was just invited to the November Project and was excited about going with a group. Then it hit me that they might be there - and all the insecurities came back. I’m almost scared to run into them while working out.

Don't you dare let your fear of them being there stop you from bettering yourself! YOU are the one who has to live your life, don't for a second consider not doing something because some assholes might be there. They only have power over you if you give it to them, don't give it to them, live your life for you. I say this having had this realization later in my life and want to impart it to someone younger, you don't get a refund at the end of life if you let someone else dictate how you lived. God isn't going to say, "yeah, it was supposed to be your time but I figure you've wasted five years, so see you in five years."

Go to the November Project, have a blast, meet some new friends, live your best life and don't give a damn what your asshole bosses think.

 

[olayemi]

@ctian25 fyi the November Project (from my limited experience with them) is full of obnoxiously positive, upbeat and inclusive individuals and even if you go and the workout is a killer in no way will they make you feel insecure - go hang out with them, just be prepared for them to want to hug you and stuff.

 

[anonymous108723]

@ctian25 If they sincerely wanted existing staff to meet certain requirements they should state the requirements honestly at least (telling you upfront 'we're asking because we want all our staff to be super active in the fitness community for good PR and cust service reasons' etc) and give you time to try meeting them on your own, even if they can't offer any help or training. It sounds more like they had to cut someone asap and were fishing for candidates to let go, instead of trying to develop the people they already had. I'm sorry it happened but glad you are not working there any more, i hope your current and future employers appreciate you much more

 

[tonwhite]

@ctian25 Genuinely, apply for unemployment. If they wanted to require a certain amount of fitness per employee, they should have been up front about it in the interview and made it a requirement. You were not negligent or unsatisfactory in your actual work performance.

Go to this November Project thing. If you run into them, let them know that they were right that you didn't fit into their culture, and say it in a way that implies their culture is toxic bullshit, because it is.