Friday, March 13, 2009

Promotion or exploitation!

I was happy to be made a personal trainer, finally after a wait of two months. But I was also not-so-happy with this development because...
1. They required me to do my eight-hour-floor-trainer-job alongside.
2. I wasn't allowed to do my personal training during my floor training hours.
3. I was expected to put in extra hours to cover the other peak hour of the day. (Peak hour at the gym usually is from 6 to 10 morning as well as evening, 'cos that's when the gym floor is most crowded.) Floor training must cover one of the peak hour and now they wanted my personal training to cover the other peak hour slot too. So, without mentioning it explicitly, they actually wanted me to work from 6 AM to 10 PM. It was like staying at the gym itself. I'd've been happy if the gym had a decent place to rest and sleep.
Well, I got two clients in January and three in February. Was going slowly but steadily. But at the same time, I was gettig three, and sometimes just four, hours of sleep daily for two months.
My pleas to reduce my working hours by allowing me to stop my floor training fell on deaf ears. I was told that even if I stopped my floor training, I'd have to be at the gym to cover both the peak hours, otherwise I wouldn't get the required 20 clients that they expected me to have.
I was stupid. Wasn't thinking from the 'money' point-of-view. I just wanted to handle 5, maximum 8, clients daily.
I loved training. Came into this field because teaching makes me happy and working at a gym gave me quick and easy access to working out. But the people I worked had different thoughts. Their aim was earning money, and just that.
Soon I realised it's gonna get worse if I continue this way. And that's why I decided to quit.
I'm now waiting at home to get my energy back, get my pay-cheque for the last two months, prepare a plan-of-action, and act on it.
Wish me luck!

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