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Hiring Advice

I'm looking to expand within the next 6 months. Any advice on hiring trainers? Tracking and auditing them? Legal issues, etc?

Permalink Reply by Jesse on September 23, 2008 at 9:51am: The most important thing to do is have them sign a non compete clause, basically an agreement that states that if they quit or are terminated, they can not do personal training in your city for a certain period of time. (3-6 months is reasonable)

As far as tracking, the best way is to remain in contact with all your clients. If a trainer steals clients someone will usually slip up.

Hope that helps...

Jesse; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by FitStyle Magazine- GFC Group NC on October 3, 2009 at 9:30am: no that is not right ...trainers should be able to train anywhere that is extortion and you can get into a lot of trouble legally

I dealt with companies that did this...you can not keep someone from doing their profession they have attended college if you do this your company can also be liable for law suits.
find a way to make sure that you are getting some support and let them know if they train with you that they are to promote you; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Keith (Founder of Trainer Village) on October 14, 2009 at 7:53pm: unfortunately there are a lot of scummy trainers out there, your point is well taken though, thanks for chiming in...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Peter Churchill on October 14, 2009 at 9:50pm: Hey Keith et al., guys this is always a tough question, but although the law differs from place to place about "do not compete contracts", you can't really do much about someone moving on unless they steal something (list, address file etc.) from you (and then you have to prove it....yikes it's always a mess and not usually worth the trouble). The best security is to keep in close contact with your clients and trainers and make your best effort to run a fair business with good value and opportunity. If someone wants to strike out on their own, you can offer some advice, tell them good luck and try to reassign their clients (who might also be yours) to someone new. After all, clients understand that people sometimes come and go and they came to your club/studio in the first place for a reason, no? Any way good luck if you find yourself on either side of the fence. Peter C; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Keith (Founder of Trainer Village) on October 18, 2009 at 10:42pm: great points, the point of a non compete is not to prevent trainers form leaving you and training in your area, it is just legal backing in case you end up in a terrible situation with a former not so ethical trainer...; ▶ Reply to This

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