Members of Goodlife Health Clubs and Fitness First gyms are furious after it was announced that a hugely popular service is being phased out across Australia.
A major Australian fitness chain has announced it will close childcare facilities at 89 gyms across the country, sparking outrage from parents.
Fitness and Lifestyle Group currently operates childcare facilities at its top-tier Fitness First and Goodlife Health clubs.
But starting July 3, the gym giants will close the door on their childcare facilities at the two gym chains, citing a “drastic reduction” in attendance that “makes the service unsustainable.”
The move will put all of the fitness chain’s childcare employees out of work starting next month, though some are expected to be relocated to other parts of the business, and has left parents devastated.
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A spokesperson for The Fitness and Lifestyle Group told news.com.au that the health and fitness industry was still reeling from the pandemic and was now in a “transition” period that took into account current lifestyle habits. gym and lifestyle.
“Recovering from Covid-19 continues to represent a significant challenge for everyone in the health club industry.
“As a company, we have seen very clear changes in member behavior since the beginning of 2020, and it behooves us to adapt to meet the changing needs of our members.
“Sadly, one of the clear changes in member behavior is a drastic reduction in the use of our childcare service, which is down 50 to 60 percent compared to pre-Covid levels, which which makes the service unsustainable”.
The spokesman added that it had been a “very difficult decision for the business”.
“We are working closely on support and redeployment opportunities for our affected team members and providing support to our members as they readjust their routines.”
A mother who bought a black membership, which costs $34.99 a week and includes 3 babysitting sessions, at the Goodlife Health Club in Karrinyup, WA, said the move was “terrible.”
“Closing the daycare will come at the cost of the health and well-being of so many parents,” she said.
“I am devastated, as are all my mom friends, that this will take away our ability to exercise and try to stay healthy and get our bodies back on track.
“I’m also devastated that all the lovely nursery workers will be out of a job.”
She explained that many members discovered the change in their memberships through a sign posted at the gym or on social media, describing it as a “kick in the teeth” for women juggling childcare and worked.
“A friend of mine sent me a picture of the sign and asked ‘is this real?’ she said.
“The fact that they haven’t communicated anything is ridiculous.”
He also said that the childcare facilities at his local club were always busy, with at least 16-20 children inside at any one time.
“It’s pretty devastating,” he said. “I will cancel my membership, I can no longer justify the cost.”
Angry members are now also exploding in the comments section of a recent Goodlife Health Clubs Australia Facebook post as news of the decision spreads.
“Shame on you to close down all the nurseries in Australia at GoodLife. What a bad decision. For every mother who now needs to cancel her membership, I hope she plans to waive the membership cancellation fee,” one woman fumed on Friday.
“Closing all childcare areas to accommodate a pilates studio is the dumbest business decision ever made in the history of gym ownership,” one frustrated parent wrote.
“Many people (myself included) bought our memberships BECAUSE of the nursery facilities. In fact, they sold me my membership on the premise that I would get 3 daycare passes a week included. This is absolutely false and misleading, to sell a membership and within two months, revoke one of the main components of it! I am angry and disappointed,” said another mother.
Many more declared that they would “cancel” their memberships unless the decision was reversed.
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