Ep 14. Retro Fitness

Undercover Boss is an Emmy Award-winning television series that follows high-level executives as they pose as entry-level employees in their own companies. In this episode, titled "Retro Fitness," CEO and founder Eric Casaburi goes undercover to see what it's really like to work for his gym franchise, which has over 150 locations across the United States.

Eric begins his journey in a Retro Fitness location in New Jersey, where he meets his first employee, Rodney, who works as a personal trainer. Rodney shows Eric the ropes of the gym, including how to instruct clients and how to use the gym equipment. Eric struggles with some of the exercises but manages to keep up with the clients. He also learns about the challenges that personal trainers face, including earning low wages and not having the support they need from upper management.

Next, Eric works with Angela, a front desk associate, who is responsible for checking in clients and handling customer complaints. Eric learns how to manage the front desk and realizes that there are many customer service issues that need to be addressed. He observes that many clients are unhappy with the cleanliness of the gym and the unavailability of equipment, and decides to take action to improve these issues.

After working with Angela, Eric meets with Cailyn, a group fitness instructor. Cailyn leads a high-energy Zumba class that Eric struggles to keep up with. But he is impressed by Cailyn's enthusiasm and passion for fitness, and he decides to attend more classes in the future. Cailyn also shares her personal story with Eric, including how she was able to overcome a drug addiction and use fitness as a way to transform her life.

Eric then works with Ashley, a sales representative who is responsible for signing up new clients and giving tours of the gym. Ashley shows Eric how to give a tour and pitch the benefits of Retro Fitness to potential clients. Eric realizes that he needs to improve his sales techniques and offers to work with Ashley to develop a better approach to selling memberships.

Finally, Eric works with Shawn, a general manager who is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the gym. Shawn takes Eric through the administrative tasks of running a gym, including how to manage staff, budget for supplies, and handle customer complaints. Eric sees firsthand the immense responsibility that comes with managing a gym franchise and decides to make some changes to ensure that the employees have the support they need to succeed.

Throughout his journey, Eric learns a lot about the challenges that his employees face and the improvements that can be made to make Retro Fitness a better place to work and exercise. He also gains a newfound appreciation for the hard work and dedication of his employees and the impact that Retro Fitness has on the communities it serves. This episode is a valuable reminder that effective leadership requires empathy, understanding, and a willingness to listen and take action.