Need advice resolving conflict with gym owner

[FFTrainer]

I am a personal trainer and I work as an independent contractor? The owner of the studio gym that I lease also works as a trainer. Recently he had knee surgery and asked me to cover his clients. One client he got just before he began knee surgery. This client trained for three weeks with me and would like to stay with me as her trainer. She has not trained with the gym owner. She also referred other clients to me who I signed up. The gym owner wants to take his client back now and he feels that any clients that she referred to me belong to him. I feel that she referred those clients to me because she liked the job I was doing and referred them to me based on that and therefor any referrals brought in should belong to me?

From a third party standpoint, what would be the right thing to do in this situation? I'm fine with him keeping the client that started with him. (Although I'm not sure to do about the situation since she wants to train with me instead of him.) Should I just inform the clients that I will be unable to train them at that gym? Should I move? Thoughts, comments? Thanks.

[J_Merkm]

Personally, you have the right to keep those clients, thee was no contract signed that said "any new clients aquired through such and such must be forfeited upon blah blah blah" tell him straight up, you busted your ass, they like your work, he can eaither let it go and accept the fact that you recieved the leads or loose a paying contractor...its really pretty 1 sided in your favor, worse comes to worse you do some in home training, make 2 times as much, and find another spot... if your a good tainer your clients will follow!- just my opinion man, too many personal trainers tend to take too much abuse when it comes to the bigger boys like gyms and such. hey you bring them business... they can like it or lump it.

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[christopher2100]

don't just move......... stand your grounds and take it from there.... this guy may see how determined you are and gain respect for you in that sense. if not then you can move on......

[dreamcatcher]

I am a personal trainer, we always say the customer is always right. Your club owner should fill the same way. If a client wants you as their trainer because they like your training style, then so be it. I have given more than one client to other trainers because it was a better fit. ( I kick ass and some just can not take it)

[Pure Pilates]

It's in the club owners best interest to keep his trainers happy. Wouldn't he want you to be busy? He must be hard up for clients himself. When clients move from one trainer to another and it doesn't really have anything to do with schedule conflicts, it's likely to be about training methods, personality, etc... I think the gym owner is feeling intimidated a bit. Good luck.







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[tbuzzell]

All in all, it's the client's decision and the three of you need to talk it out. The client should be the one to decide who she wants to train with not the owner.

[SpyWizard]

Quote posted by FFTrainer I am a personal trainer and I work as an independent contractor? The owner of the studio gym that I lease also works as a trainer. Recently he had knee surgery and asked me to cover his clients. One client he got just before he began knee surgery. This client trained for three weeks with me and would like to stay with me as her trainer. She has not trained with the gym owner. She also referred other clients to me who I signed up. The gym owner wants to take his client back now and he feels that any clients that she referred to me belong to him. I feel that she referred those clients to me because she liked the job I was doing and referred them to me based on that and therefor any referrals brought in should belong to me? From a third party standpoint, what would be the right thing to do in this situation? I'm fine with him keeping the client that started with him. (Although I'm not sure to do about the situation since she wants to train with me instead of him.) Should I just inform the clients that I will be unable to train them at that gym? Should I move? Thoughts, comments? Thanks.

depends on the contract you have with the gym owner.. and he does own the gym, sometimes the facility is in part the reason the person trains there..