Virgin Active reviews

Joined as a Sales Manager at a struggling club. Although predominantly non-grad initial impressions of General / Area/ Regional management were good. Very unpleasant behaviour once I joined. Sales Consultants were gym enthusiasts who were just passing through and wanted an easy ride, if they weren't actually using the gym for 1-1 1/2 to 2 hours at lunch they were seeking the gym staff for training tips or chatting with members at reception networking for training buddies. They got quite aggressive at times about doing their job. Other behavioural problems endemic such as daily homophobia and bullying tactics to claim others sales to the point of concocting a convoluted 'system' to justify each claim which was fiercely defended. No management backup to tackle bad behaviour. Combined with general managements shockingly clueless sales knowledge (told me exactly what to say in meetings verbatim as though it were my own contribution and thought the standard KPI's were something I'd dreamed up to 'slave drive' - awkward!) I was managed out within two months for lack of teamwork. Can't say I wasn't a little relieved! The professionalism was weak making my job pretty impossible at times but shed some light on why that club consistently underachieved - I was told my tenure wasn't so bad compared to a more recent end of month with no sales at all!! Apparently general management had mismanaged the team so badly they weren't talking to each other at all, something echoed in my time there. Patterns repeating themselves... Not worth the poor pay- £20k pa is not a management salary, especially not in sales and especially not in London. The day job was literally behaviour management upwards, downwards, and sideways, very little sales management. Aspirations for Area Management progression would have been undermined by the bad renumeration also making the company as a career option a no go. Much management talk internally about not liking people and whimsically ending their careers at the company which was off-putting. Disappointing company culture.

Their only concern now is getting ready to float. Cut backs, disguising bonuses that aren't achievable but try and kid you in to believing that they are (some of us can work it out by ourself), penny pinching and no longer put their people first! Now being run by 'yes men' that have absolutely zero people skills! They also expect so much in terms of additional hours, but give little in return and look down their noses at you if you do leave ON TIME.