Fitness managers and directors: Do you have a standard operating procedure that governs staff conduct? What are the main points?

Hi Joy,

since nobody wants to talk to you, let me write the highlights of the club where I teach a few classes. Let me preface by saying that this wellness center is associated with a hospital and is thus part of a very large operation.

The standards set pertain mainly to the principles of customer service such as courtesy and punctuality. There is a dress code, even for people on the fitness floor, to look professional all the time. New employees also go through a 2 day orientation about the standards at the hospital, and the fitness center staff is not excluded.

For the fitness operation, there are standards of documentation when doing fitness assessment and providing client orientations or personal training. Classes are periodically monitored to ensure adherence with industry standards.

Personally, if I had a staff (which I do not :-)), my main concern would be proper workout, assessment and health history documentation to demonstrate adequate care in case of liability issues.