Research shows that personal trainers are not paid like medieval serfs.

According to a new study, personal trainers are not paid like medieval serfs.

New research reveals that personal trainers suffer from headaches and sleep problems due to the “corrosive effect” of working long days in order to earn a living. The study shows that personal trainers are not living the glamorous life of being well paid and working with the rich. Instead, they work unpaid, just like medieval serfs.

Researchers interviewed six trainers, observed a gym in South Wales and surveyed 74 independent trainers in 40 British cities. Researchers are Professor Geraint H. Harvey of Western University in Canada, Professor Sheena Vachhani of University of Bristol (UK), and Professor Carl Rhodes University of Technology Australia.

Self-employed personal trainers can get clients by working in a gym. They either pay for this privilege or do unpaid hours such as cleaning and tidying, or taking classes. The study revealed that gyms began to hire more self-employed trainers over time as a means of reducing their staff costs. Researchers noted that official data showed that the number of self-employed personal trainers rose 400% between 2006 and 2019, from 9,000 up to 47,400. The number with secure employment contracts barely grew.

A survey revealed that the increase in competition, and insecurity in income had affected the wellbeing of self-employed trainers. The survey showed that 50% of them experienced fatigue. More than 40% of them had sleep problems and stress. 33% of respondents had anxiety and irritability. 20% of respondents had headaches. 10% of respondents had stomach aches.

The researchers report in an article published in Sociology, a journal of the British Sociological Association, that more than a quarter (25%) of respondents said they had worked with and were in direct competition between 10 to 20 colleagues.

Self-employed personal trainers do not receive payment from the gym. They must instead solicit clients within the gym membership to generate income. Just as the serf worked on the land leased by the lord to provide sustenance for his family, the self employed personal trainer performs and pays rent to the gym. As an example, you can conduct formal fitness classes and provide customer service. You can also clean the gym or maintain it. This encourages the gym to maximize the number of personal trainers who are self-employed.

The competition for clients in a particular gym is the cause of the corrosive effect of self-employed trainers.

In the survey, 29 percent of self-employed trainers worked more than 51 hours a week. Eleven percent worked more than 61. They also spend up to 30 hours per week outside of the gym to market themselves, answer online questions and create exercise and diet plans for their clients.

In informal discussions with self-employed trainers working at the observation site, it was revealed that six days of work per week were common. Some personal trainers worked on site seven day a week.

To be able to attract clients, the independent personal trainer has to be visible and easily accessible. The competition for clients is likely to increase presenteeism in the workplace, both by working long hours and showing up sick.

Researchers interviewed personal trainers:

* “I am self-employed but I have to work for the gym that I use for free to pay for rent so that my business can be done at their premises.” (male trainer from Birmingham)

* “I work long hours. I used to work seven days a weeks. I now work six days a week. You have to work hard. It is very difficult and exhausting. “I usually start at 7am or 8am, and finish around 9pm.”

Long hours, lots and lots of demands and constant client interaction can be mentally and physically exhausting. “The club where I work has no natural lighting or air on the floor of the gym and 13-hour working days quickly add up.” (female fitness trainer, Oxford).

Interviewees claimed it was easy to become a personal trainer. As the researchers noted: “To be a self employed personal trainer in the UK, one must hold a Level 3-Diploma in Fitness Instruction and Personal Training (or a Level 3-Diploma in Personal Training) – a qualification which can be obtained in a matter of weeks.”

One London trainer stated: “It is becoming a race towards the bottom.” Inexperienced, newly qualified personal trainers are undercharging and never able to make a living. It dilutes service, and stops highly qualified, experienced and skilled personal trainers being able earn what they’re worth.