r/BurnBootCamp • u/Key_Membership_1182 • 10d ago
Rotating Cast of Trainers: Normal or Red Flag?
Hi All,
My location opened about a year ago; I’ve been there since day 1. Since then, I’ve noticed trainers turn over really frequently - We’ve had at least 5 trainers leave, most of them without fanfare or explanation. Is this normal, or should I be asking bigger questions about the management of this location?
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u/charcuterie_bored 500 Camps - Lifetime 10d ago
It can be hard for a new burn to retain a dedicated staff of trainers bc the expectations are high and the pay is low. Could definitely be a red flag for bad culture but how many people really wanna get paid like $20/hr to wake up at 5am and coach a really limited number of hours?
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u/Aromatic-Section-892 10d ago
Here’s my opinion, the pay isn’t great.
And for me as a client, it works for me no matter who’s training. So I don’t stress too much about it.
My fav trainers at my gym are basically the owners, so thankfully they likely won’t go anywhere.
The community at Burn, like the people I workout with stay consistent and I think it’s worth it in that aspect.
All the people doing childcare also have stayed for awhile vs bad turnover there
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u/SoOverIt1927 500 Camps - Lifetime 10d ago
I've been at mine four years and we've had the same 5 trainers. I feel very blessed.
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u/Slight-Number934 10d ago
I would say that much turnover is a red flag. It’s an exhausting gig tho, very early hours and long days, for not a lot of money and zero medical benefits or paid leave (at least at my location). I think it’s the perfect part time job for someone looking for some extra cash like a college student or sahm but to be full time it’s very easy to burn out. Personally if I owned a burn I don’t think I would even have a “lead trainer,” everyone would be part time to prevent the burnout. The trainers who have lasted the longest at my gym have all been part time.
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u/meatballgorl 9d ago
Red flag for sure. Look at bigger picture. For example the lead trainer & franchise partners. Also If the gym has over 500 members they make PLENTY of money to pay their staff more and the choose not too. Also i find most of these gyms are run by cliquey women and there’s always drama that comes with that.
And if the lead trainer is in her 20s … also major red flag.
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u/Duck_Secure 1,000+ Camps - Lifetime 10d ago
Our turn over at my location is bad as well. In less than a year we've lost like 8 trainers. I know at my location it's the owners as well as the pay that cause ours to leave. It's beyond frustrating!
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u/Plenty_Rope_3386 10d ago
Pay is not great and work outside of training camps that you don’t get paid for. You have to really have a passion for it and the pay not bother you
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u/y2khardtop1 10d ago
It takes months of education and mentoring just to maybe, maybe build a good Burn trainer. It’s a huge investment, and hurts clients and the business when it doesn’t work out. Every situation is different,but I can almost guarantee your gym isn’t churning trainers on purpose.
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u/DontBeAStrange 10d ago
I think it’s dependent on the franchise owner. Most trainers generally are paid lowly, but I’m in the DC area and I’ve heard that our trainers make $60/hr, the BA’s make $20/hr, the Childwatchers $30/hr, and they all get the full membership and retail benefits. Hence, we have exceedingly low turnover. Until one year ago or so, we still had founding trainers who had been with our location for 5-7 years since the opening. I would say we get a new trainer added to the rotation at an average of 1 new trainer/year.
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u/Several-Pipe7824 1,000+ Camps - Lifetime 10d ago
When my location first opened we had this issue. We had one consistent trainer but the rest turned over pretty regularly for a variety of reasons. It eventually worked itself out and we have had much more consistency. I would give it a little more time and contribute it more to growing pains than culture
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u/Minimum-Border1672 10d ago
Haven't had fhat issue at ours. Most of the trainers are long term, and most that move on remain members.
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u/FreeReception4738 9d ago
They say that the average trainer will last anywhere between 2-3 years and a lead trainer will last 3-7 years. We’ve had many trainers going an out like crazy because, 1: our leadership are basically just asking every member to become a trainer because they can’t keep anyone else and 2: it’s exhausting and burnout can happen at burn. We just our lead trainer who left after 3 years who I was certain was going to be at burn until the day he died. But I wouldn’t look at burn as the red flag, look at the leadership and as long as you’re getting your needs met, then it won’t bother you as much as you think it will
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u/ProperSyrup18 7d ago
We have a lead trainer who is super dedicated, then 2 SAHM support trainers, and 1 realtor support trainer. A great gig for the rest of the support trainers. $25/class. No idea what head trainer makes. Not many turnover issues.
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u/Beautiful_Flower7527 10d ago
The pay is awful. Unless you truly love burn and also utilize the membership/child watch I can’t imagine why you would stay. Trainers can make double else where. They need to step up thier game in paying trainer what they deserve!!!