Pros
The staff and member community are amazing. These are the kindest and most supportive people you’ll meet who care a lot about giving each other a safe space whether you’re new and you will only climb once and never again or you’re hoping to turn this into a lifetime hobby. Kids can be kids here. We treat you like you’re our new friend when you come in. On-site managers are also amazing people, communicative and supportive as they can be despite often being messengers of corporation.
Cons
Constantly overworked, understaffed.
Extremely underpaid. Busiest gym in NYC but lowest paid staff. Other gyms pay $4-5 higher rate for starting positions.
Company does not encourage career growth.
Union busting.
Shift times are early as 6:30 in the morning and as late as 11:30 at night.
Laborious. Requires heavy lifting, you are constantly in your feet and moving. Dealing with janitorial tasks like rental shoes, bathrooms, blood and occasionally vomit.
Dealing with traumatic injuries. Not for the faint of heart.
Inconsistent hours. Our schedules are sent to us 2 weeks in advance, and it’s always different. Make sure you have a second job.
Upper management controls workflow but has no experience on the floor and unreceptive to feedback.
Often overstimulating. You’ll have to talk nonstop for your entire shift.
High stress environment. Multitasking constantly. Imagine 3 phones ringing while you’re asking an angry parent very nicely to fill out insurance mandated waivers, their kids are running in a danger zone and the fire alarm goes off and someone sprains an ankle in your peripheral view, there is a 20 person line at the desk and you haven’t had lunch.