"TOXICCCC"
Pros
flexpay is a great feature, but beyond that, there are very few perks to the actual job. the location i worked at had a particularly toxic gym culture, where inappropriate behavior was often overlooked. there was a troubling acceptance of sexual harassment toward both members and employees, instances of violence between members, unchecked racist remarks, and immature, high school-like behavior. it was a really unhealthy and disappointing environment.
Cons
the workplace suffers from poor management and outdated systems. there’s a noticeable lack of proper training, frequent equipment breakdowns, and ongoing staffing issues, partly due to post-pandemic challenges and a lack of strong leadership. communication is ineffective across all levels of the organization. favoritism is common, and there are concerns about unprofessional behavior, including substance use among some associates, unchecked harassment, and instances of workplace bullying. overall, it’s an unhealthy and toxic environment that makes it a difficult place to work.
General Comments
the issues start at the corporate level and trickle down to general management. the planet fitness in question, located on mlk blvd in durham, nc, is a franchise operated by excel fitness, based in texas. the gym is housed in a leased space that used to be a walmart supercenter. as a former member turned employee, i noticed that not much has changed since the post-pandemic days—the same problematic members i encountered before were still causing issues, but it felt even worse dealing with it as an employee, especially under a manager who enabled this behavior. when you’re on the clock, it’s a whole different experience. clearly, there’s a lot of room for improvement, and the company needs to do better.
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"Just OK"
Pros
Nice gym. Members were friendly
Cons
this wasn’t a front-of-house job, and there were no trainers or maintenance staff to support daily operations. if you’re looking for a temporary job to hold you over until something better comes along, this could work.
General Comments
Quit acting like 16 year olds and gossipping about new hires because of their age. Their GM was leaving. That was really bad because of the incoming management was too young to be fair to anyone.
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"Get in and Get Out"
Pros
Great staff and free membership.
Cons
mostly everything
General Comments
if you’re looking for a temporary job to hold you over until something better comes along, this could be a good fit. however, if you’re considering management, it’s best to gain about a year of experience and then move on to a higher-level role elsewhere. working as a manager for planet fitness nfp can be very stressful. the franchise owners seem disconnected from the realities of running the company, and the low pay contributes to high turnover rates—staff members start at $11 an hour, often leaving as soon as they find better-paying opportunities. managers aren’t compensated fairly for the stress they endure, with assistant general managers (agm) starting at $37k and general managers (gm) at $48k, which doesn’t reflect the workload. during interviews, it can feel like you’re almost begging candidates to accept the job, especially for overnight positions that only pay $13 an hour. the agm role is particularly tough because you handle the same responsibilities as a gm without the same pay, and you’re stuck with the worst schedule—working second shift five days a week. if an overnight employee calls out, you’re the one who has to stay until 6 am. shifts can feel monotonous, with long hours spent standing at the front desk and doing minimal cleaning tasks to fill the time.
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"Its ALright"
Pros
if you’re looking to start your career and build valuable experience, this is a great place to begin. the work environment is friendly, with supportive and easygoing coworkers who make the day more enjoyable. some customers are genuinely pleasant, adding a positive and fun dynamic to the job, which helps make the work feel more rewarding.
Cons
you’re expected to be on your feet for 8 hours a day, which can take a toll on your health and back. meanwhile, managers spend most of their shifts sitting comfortably in the office. the only time you get to sit and relax is during your 30-minute lunch break. management can be pretty hypocritical when it comes to enforcing rules—they expect you to be punctual even though they’re often late themselves, and while you’re not allowed to use your phone, they’re on theirs from time to time. the pay isn’t great, so if you have rent or bills to cover, this job might not be the best fit.
General Comments
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"Shit job "
Pros
When management is strong, it’s a relaxed and enjoyable place to work. Most of my coworkers were great, friendly people, and many of the members were incredibly kind and awesome. It’s nice to see familiar faces each week and build a sense of connection with them. You gain a lot of valuable experience in various areas, such as cleaning, customer service, and more. Plus, you get the perk of a free gym membership.
Cons
When I left the Saratoga Ave location, the general manager was ineffective, with issues around respect and an inflated ego. The pay was extremely low, especially considering the high expectations, while other locations offered better pay with fewer demands (this often depends on the company that owns the location). Some members were rude and left unpleasant messes to clean up. Additionally, the company that owned the location seemed completely out of touch with the day-to-day realities of working in the club, and it really showed.
General Comments
Start valuing your staff instead of treating them as easily replaceable. Treat employees like adults and ease up on the strict phone policies—no one is paid enough to deal with that level of control. Increase wages significantly to reflect the hard work and dedication your team puts in.
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"Planet Fitness is a Great place to work"
Pros
benefits, perks, coworkers, hours, consistency, freedom, pay
Cons
not high level raises, difficult to reach bonus tokens
General Comments
Keep pushing it to be better each day
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"great coworkers, awful upper management"
Pros
I didn?t expect to make meaningful connections, but I?m really grateful for the relationships I?ve built with members. Some even gave me homemade gifts during the holidays, which was such a nice surprise! The work is straightforward?mostly cleaning, but it helps the time go by quickly.
Cons
One of the most glaring issues with working here is the complete lack of care and consideration from upper management. It becomes painfully obvious over time that they don?t genuinely value their employees as individuals, nor do they make any real effort to create a supportive or fair work environment. They consistently hold certain employees to incredibly strict standards, enforcing every rule and expectation down to the smallest detail, while simultaneously allowing others to skate by without facing any consequences for similar?if not worse?infractions. This blatant favoritism not only breeds resentment among staff but also creates an incredibly toxic work culture where hard work and dedication often go unnoticed unless you?re part of the ?in crowd? or have personal connections with management.
What?s even more troubling is their complete lack of understanding?or even awareness?when it comes to basic concepts like ableism. And I mean that literally. In conversations about workplace accessibility and fairness, it became painfully clear that some people in leadership positions didn?t even know what the term "ableist" meant. This ignorance isn?t just disappointing; it?s a serious red flag about the company?s lack of commitment to fostering an inclusive environment.
For employees with disabilities, the situation is even worse. Rather than providing reasonable accommodations as a standard practice, they make it feel like a constant uphill battle. Disabled staff members often have to advocate fiercely just to receive the bare minimum support needed to do their jobs effectively. Requests for accommodations that should be straightforward?like flexible scheduling, ergonomic equipment, or minor adjustments to daily tasks?are met with resistance, excessive paperwork, or outright dismissiveness. It?s exhausting and demoralizing to have to fight for basic rights in the workplace, and it speaks volumes about the company?s true priorities.
In short, the lack of inclusivity, blatant favoritism, and failure to support employees?especially those who are disabled?makes it clear that upper management is more focused on maintaining appearances than creating a genuinely equitable and supportive work environment.
General Comments
1. Upper management should respect employees the same way staff are expected to treat members. Micromanaging through cameras without understanding daily operations is demoralizing. Allow front desk staff to sit when appropriate.
2. Stay engaged, ask questions, and take initiative. That?s the key to succeeding in this role.
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"quick review"
Pros
good place
Cons
Cons
General Comments
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"it?s fine if you?re cool with karens & gym bros"
Pros
great place to work?solid environment overall
Cons
No cons for me?I genuinely enjoyed working here.
General Comments
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"good job overall"
Pros
depending on the gym and management, it can be a really fun job with great staff and members
Cons
Like any job, you?ll deal with difficult people??Karens? and grumpy customers. Some company policies also don?t make much sense.
General Comments
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Planet Fitness Information
Planet Fitness has received a B- Rating rating based on 429 employee provided reviews on Grade My Job which means that most employees would rate this company somewhat favarably and generally like working at this company.
Headquarters
Newington, New Hampshire, United States
Year Founded
1992
Industry
Health, Wellness And Fitness
Total Employees
1001 - 5000
Website
planetfitness.com