Instructor conflict of interest

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Studio owners - how do you feel about your instructors accepting teaching jobs in the general area of your studio?

I have contracts with some, not all, of my instructors. We live in a satellite town about 15 minutes from the outskirts of a large city. I hired some of the local teachers with the understanding that they have current home practices and I am willing to live with that. However, a new gym has sprung up offering free yoga and a couple of them have started teaching there, and I feel uncomfortable about it. I have seen a few of my own marketing ideas and programs used there, and I approached one girl who admitted mentioning my ideas to the management and she apologized. I am still deciding if to keep her.

In retrospect, hiring the local teachers, which at first blush seemed a good idea, has revealed something I hadn’t thought of. They aren’t as ‘behind’ the studio as the teachers from the city, mainly because they have their own thing going. You can’t ride 2 horses with only one ass, as they say in France.

Now I’m considering replacing them with the city instructors and others willing to agree not to instruct where there may be conflict.

#2

Flex.

Yoga teachers are considered independent contractors. Most of the teachers I know teach at multiple locations and are not exclusive to one studio. Having a contract with teachers is something I’m not familiar with. When a students finds a teacher they tend to follow them wherever they are teaching.

Do the teachers who go to other studios have large classes at your studio?

#3

LG - they do not. The clients came from my efforts. Most of my other instructors teach at other studios in the city. I have no issue with that. I am uncomfortable with the locals taking on new gigs 4 blocks away. That said, if I don’t like it, I can change it.

#4

Are they no longer attending class at your studio?

And yes, as owner you can change it, and no doubt you will! Sorry you are having this problem :frowning:

#5

If the faculty are under contract then the terms of the contract determine the behavior of the relationship. If the contract does not specify or strictly prohibit such a behavior then it is a legally “allowed” behavior.

Whether it is ethical or not is another mater - and that should be ferreted out in the initial interview process and reinforced within the lineage of the teacher’s training.

#6

This fell into our Business of Yoga chapter in my teacher training. We could argue all day on the ethics, on the yoga sutra on ahimsa and non-stealing, against the yoga sutra on Aparigraha: non-possessiveness,greed, grasping.

Since they stopped teaching civics in school it falls upon leaders to define the ethical folkways and distinguish between right and rude. For a business that usually means putting it in writing.

Here is a paraphrasing of my Non-Solicitation agreement. Warning the following contains a brief burst of humour play on the thread starter that may not be appropriate for delicate readers but I hope he will find amusing:

Non-Solicitation

a) You agree and acknowledge that Flex My Second Chakra makes a significant investment in promoting its facility and its teachers to build and retain its clientele.
You therefore agree not to solicit students or teachers of Flex My Second Chakra to follow you elsewhere.
b) You agree that student records are not to be used to personally solicit students or teachers and are meant for use by and for Flex My Second Chakra.
c) Flex My Second Chakra is committed to our teachers and hopes to provide a great experience for you. We endeavour to receive the same level of commitment from you as well. It is our hope that you will speak freely with us about your classes and let us know if we can do anything to make your experience and the experience of our clients, and consumers better.

Well that is one of my old agreements. If you want other examples let me know.

#7

I’m not a studio owner but I know that non-compete agreements are used in other industries where employees have the ability to siphon customers away from the business. In order to be enforceable they have to be limited by geography and by length of time. The agreement is not meaningful unless you are prepared to enforce it.

#8

This is true. I do have non-compete clauses. My mistake was to make an adjustment to accommodate the local teachers. In spirit, the amended clause acknowledges that the teacher has their own thing going and not prevented from continuing, but cannot solicit my members. Like my old mentor Snagglepuss used to say, “give them an inch, and they will take your back yard!” :slight_smile: