I Really Need Your Opinions On this.

**angeljzmom** · 07-17-2009, 08:50 AM

I am not sure if this is where I should write this but here goes. I work at a women's gym( not saying the name)where you do a circuit workout in a half hour. I have worked here 7 years. The Dr recently told she wants me to try and work out 1 hour a day. I am 70 lbs overweight and really need to work out more. I found a Zumba class at the Senior Center(where I also work) that is 2 times a week.(It is fast paced Latin dance steps to Latin music) I love it and I hate to exercise so this is great. I have noticed that my body is getting alot trimmer. My question is does my boss from the gym have to right to tell I can't do the class at the senior center because it is conflict of interest. She said it makes me look like I am saying " our gym isn't enough of a workout" and really it isn't for me. I am really upset about this. I also would like to take a dance class at the college. I am going to try to talk to her again about it. I hope I can keep my cool! I really don't want to give this class up. The best part is that a good friend has paying for it because she knows my financial situation.
Thanks all in advance!

**AmyBoz** · 07-17-2009, 08:54 AM

I guess you need to re-read the contract of employment you signed. If it states in the contract that you cannot go to another gym, then yes, you are in breach of contract and you either quit and go to the other gym or you stop going to Zumba. However, if it isn't stated in the contract, then I would say that you are safe, legally, at least.

**Linus** · 07-17-2009, 08:57 AM

Does your gym offer a dance class? If not, then perhaps suggest it. Say that part of the reason why you went there was because the gym doesn't offer it and perhaps members would be interested. Additionally, you could say that you're helping the seniors out in the class.

The contract thing may also be a stickler. I wouldn't imagine a senior's center to be a gym but it may be up to interpretation.

**Greebo** · 07-17-2009, 09:00 AM

What others said - if its part of your contract, then yes, you're stuck.

But that said, if the boss doesn't offer that kind of exercise, and a friend is paying for it, then ... wtf, boss? Are you that insecure in your business that you're that worried about someone going to a class YOU don't offer?

**Jamielane** · 07-17-2009, 09:02 AM

Well as long as you arent advertising to the customers that you are doing this class elsewhere then I dont understand how it matters. How does your boss even know? Its none of her business what you do outside of work as long as you arent bad talking your gym or the clients. I could understand if you were going to another gym maybe but this is a class at the senior center that they dont even offer. Did you sign anything that you would only use their gym for your excersise activites ? I mean people who work at resturants still eat at other places right? Its crazy to say you cant do anything anywhere else. I would do what I wanted to do and keep my mouth shut about it to my boss. If she asks about your weight loss or getting shape just say "yeah I am working really hard".

**Mummy2** · 07-17-2009, 09:04 AM

Checy your employment contract for Non-compete and conflict of interest statements in it.
If it has then you need to make other arrangements. If it dosent and your employer dosent provide/offer the latin dance classes then you can point that out to your employer.
Its quite simple you like to dance and these are the classes offered. It has no reflection on your employer or her place of business.

Take deep breaths and have a calm demeanor and you should do fine.
good luck!

**madhen** · 07-17-2009, 09:06 AM

My oipinion is that she has no right to tell you what you can/can't do outside of her employ. HOWEVER, I wonder if it might be that she is more concerned with you TALKING about your outside class than actually attending it. If you don't talk about it at work, then how would she even know you were going? I would certainly respect that she might not want you telling her clients how much fun some OTHER exercise class is.

**angeljzmom** · 07-17-2009, 09:09 AM

Thanks for all the quick responses. I did sign a contract but it stated I couldn't go work at another gym within a certain amount of time. My bosses contract says she can't offer any classes other than the circuit. That is why I went to the senior center. My boss is insecure about her business.
Thanks again!

**Karen1** · 07-17-2009, 09:12 AM

Your boss has no right to comment on your personal activities outside of work, unless it is in a contract.

I doubt you have a contract with a regular old job like most of us........and I would not let my private activites be known at work also.

Worse thing is to let others know your business. They just make life miserable..LOL-LOL

So I would tell the boss the class is your personal activity outside of work and stop. Let her decide what she wants to do from there. I would not comment to her more than that. Let her take it from there.

Best of luck to you!!

**Greebo** · 07-17-2009, 09:34 AM

Ok so lets fact check:
- Boss is contractually unable to provide the exercise class that works for you
- Boss has no contractual binding to prevent you from working out at another facility, JUST from taking a job there

Your boss is on bad ground here. Proceed delicately, however - you don't want to antagonize her when she's clearly already somewhat irrational about this.

**ml2620** · 07-17-2009, 10:00 AM

I can see your bosses point, but I agree with the others that this dance class is completely separate.

Seriously, I'd almost see you as having the potential to ADVERTISE your gym. If you go, you can wear the t-shirt, keep up or stay ahead of the class and have a great time, smile and laugh and enjoy yourself and if anyone comments or ask you can say "My gym got me in shape enough that I can enjoy these things."

I mean seriously, don't people go to a gym to get in shape, lose the weight so they can go out and embrace life and do things and enjoy things? If you wanted to go for a night on the town dancing, would your boss say "no, you can't go out dancing on a Friday night because it's excercising outside of the gym."

I think with continued success in the classes, watching your body transform and being used to do great fun things would be the best possible advertisement for your gym. Just give credit where credit is due

, KWIM?

**craftypam** · 07-17-2009, 10:21 AM

You know what is sad in all of this. Your boss is in the exercise business and should be happy you are going to any exercise class to better your life. You have to do an exercise that you will stick with for it to be effective. I am doing that for myself now. I would not antagonize the situation if you need the job and I would just do it and not say anything

**Jamielane** · 07-17-2009, 10:39 AM

Plus if you are losing weight and your clients see this They are gonna assume you are losing it there. I would assume it. I mean if you see someone a few times a week and they work at a gym most people are gonna associate the weight loss with the gym unless your telling them otherwise. Besides that you are using the gym and you are losing weight and that has got to be helping as well as the dance class.

**ladykemma2** · 07-17-2009, 11:21 AM

you are taking a DANCE CLASS, right? not working out at a gym. " I am taking a dance class." Has nothing to do with CURVES.

**Luckybustert** · 07-17-2009, 11:46 AM

Business must be pretty bad if your boss, who is in the exercise business, wants to limit where you can exercise in your off-duty time. I think it's way over the line, and even if you do mention the Zumba class to others that doesn't mean they're going to stop going to Curves to do that instead. I think most people like variety in their exercise programs and will do a combination of things to get and stay in shape. If anything, people will stop going to Curves because the hours are so limited - that's why I quit going there. I am not a morning person so it does me no good that they open at 5:30 in the morning - I will not be getting up at the butt crack of dawn to rush around like crazy and work out before I go to work. (Especially if the facility lacks showers, as is the case with Curves.) I work M-F and have difficulty getting to Curves after work because they close at 7pm and I frequently work until 6 pm or later. They are closed Sunday, so that means my window of opportunity for working out there is basically limited to Saturday and that day they close at noon. THAT'S the problem with the Curves business model, as far as I'm concerned - the hours of operation - not where else employees may be working out. If they'd been open until 9pm instead of 7pm, I'd still be a member.