Is this illegal?

Hollylb3

I've finally got my butt back in gear going to the gym, but now of course it's summer vacation. The child care worker had no less than 25 kids to manage by herself. I asked the front desk worker if there was a limit, and she said no. I'm not comfortable with that, and it's the only gym in town with childcare. Who would I talk to or complain to? Clearly management doesn't care.

kcisthebombdotcom

Yes, way too many. I would go above the front desk. Is it a national chain? You could file a complaint with corporate as well if you don't get anywhere with gym management.

Hollylb3

KC_13 said:

Yes, way too many. I would go above the front desk. Is it a national chain? You could file a complaint with corporate as well if you don't get anywhere with gym management.

It's the Y, so locally owned.

dizzycooks

I wouldn't be ok with that, but our Y seems to have one person dedicated to babies (someone is always holding my lo!) and a few who float around with the other toddlers/preks. There are two more atleast outside. The kids have free run of in or outdoors so I figure it's fine. 1 person would not be ok with me.

superToots

I'm currently at the y

Ours in crazy too with summer being here. But mine offer a "craft time" from 9-11am that takes kids 3+ to another room to do a project and have snack. It's the busiest time of day and helps with the crowed little room.

And also ask one of the childcare workers when a less busy time of day is to come. It's usually pretty dead from 1-4pm here, but insane in the morning.

Hollylb3

@superToots‌, they only offer very limited hours to begin with (8-11 and 4:30-7:30), and I have a pretty small window when I can go with my friend / accountability partner.

I've done a little more googling and it looks like Amy is right; gyms are typically exempt from the laws. Ugh.

jesselayne8

My gym daycare seems to only have 1 person lately and it made me uncomfortable. The cleaning lady came and got me last week when DS wouldn't stop crying. The one lady was trying to hold 2 screaming babies while at least 8 toddlers were running around.

Hollylb3

jesselayne8 said:

My gym daycare seems to only have 1 person lately and it made me uncomfortable. The cleaning lady came and got me last week when DS wouldn't stop crying. The one lady was trying to hold 2 screaming babies while at least 8 toddlers were running around.

Yeah, it was our first time back since February, so ds was freaking out. Then my friend shows up and drops off her 4 kids, one around ds's age, and he starts freaking out too. It was a mess.

HBirdie

I worked in a drop-in playroom similar to a gym's (but it was at a plasma donation center) and we were exempt from the ratio laws because the parents were still in the building the entire time their kids were there. My average was anywhere from 4-8 kids most of the time, but during the summer it got crazy. I'd always call for backup at 12+ kids, unless they were all older and really self-sufficient. But toddlers/babies are hard to manage alone.

vlagrl29

I remember the gym I use to go to being very relaxed about kids club and when I switched gyms it was a night and day difference.  The new gym always had 2 people and seems more professional. There were never girls just texting on their phones.  That would drive me up the wall!

kcisthebombdotcom

Hollylb3 said:

Yes, way too many. I would go above the front desk. Is it a national chain? You could file a complaint with corporate as well if you don't get anywhere with gym management.

It's the Y, so locally owned.

Eek. I would ask to speak directly to the director about it.

Hollylb3

I think I will, KC. At least they could hire a teen for the summer. When school starts a back, it won't be an issue.

lexusolsen

I would be amazed if the y as an organization (at least for your area or region) didn't have some kind of standard. I worked as a camp counselor for a y one summer. There are policies about everything.

id012

I used to work at a gym and it was the same deal. There were tons of kids. Im not sure if I ever had 25 at once but I have had at least 13 preschool and under in the same hour and half. I dont know if its really illegal but no one ever complained about it while i was there.

Im pretty sure if people were making a stink they would just get rid of babysitting all together. The baby sitters get paid min. wage. And the insurance to have babysitting and such is really expensive so the gyms not actually make any money off of it. 

The gym I worked at did just have a few problems with night time babysitting. They just cancelled it all together.

ETA i just read the post and saw that you are takling about the Y. Im kind of shocked with that. I know our Y has like 4 or 5 girls in there all the time. I think i would expect more for them, expecially with how much it cost! 

I would talk to someone about it. I bet the babysitter feels uncomfortable too but I bet they arent going to hire someone until parents start complaining.

id012

Also, is there a time limit of how long your kid could stay? Like at my gym they only get a hour and half max. most people just use it for a hour, and from 9-10 its the busiest. So maybe your can try going later like 11-12 and it wont be as busy?

Hollylb3

There's a 2 hour time limit. In the morning, it's only open from 8-11, so we get there at 9:30 for our hour long workout.

It's not that they don't have the money, I know. They have over 10,000 members, and just added on an 18 hole indoor mini-golf course. They also have tons of staff for their day camp program. It's just not where they choose to spend it, clearly. The more I think about it, the angrier it makes me.

lexusolsen

I would honestly complain. And keep complaining. The y, as an organization, has strict policies on ratios. If you don't get through to whoever runs that y, go higher to the area supervisor. That's dangerous and risky for them if nothing else.

Hollylb3

I wasn't aware there was a higher up other than the CEO / owner. I thought each would make their own policies. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I called a bit ago and asked when would be a good time to call and speak with him, and they said he's in from 8-5.

lexusolsen

Hollylb3 said:

I wasn't aware there was a higher up other than the CEO / owner. I thought each would make their own policies. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I called a bit ago and asked when would be a good time to call and speak with him, and they said he's in from 8-5.

If I understand correctly, it's like any other franchise business. You own it yourself but there are certain expectations and policies that must be followed in order to be a "y". I'd imagine that child watch ratios would be one of them.

mrscutforth

There should be a state law for how many kids per teacher in any kind of child care situation. I'd call corporate and talk to someone about it.

Hollylb3

mrscutforth said:

There should be a state law for how many kids per teacher in any kind of child care situation. I'd call corporate and talk to someone about it.

Those laws evidently don't apply to gyms since the parents are still on the premises. Makes no sense to me.

mrscutforth

It doesn't make sense. I don't like that at all. 

lexusolsen

What state are you in?

Hollylb3

lexusolsen said:

What state are you in?

Kentucky.

lexusolsen

I'm not finding anything about regulations for the y in general online.

Hollylb3

lexusolsen said:

I'm not finding anything about regulations for the y in general online.

I couldn't find anything for my state either. Lame.

Socialworkgirl

lexusolsen said:

I wasn't aware there was a higher up other than the CEO / owner. I thought each would make their own policies. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I called a bit ago and asked when would be a good time to call and speak with him, and they said he's in from 8-5.

If I understand correctly, it's like any other franchise business. You own it yourself but there are certain expectations and policies that must be followed in order to be a "y". I'd imagine that child watch ratios would be one of them.

The YMCA is a non-profit organization so doesn't really have an "owner". I am guessing that each local YMCA is it's own 501(c)3 organization affiliated with the national YMCA. So, each local Y is an independent entity, but must follow certain standards to be able to call itself a YMCA. If you do not have luck with the CEO, I would speak to the President of the Board or another Board member. Sometimes the CEO and the board president are one and the same, but otherwise all of the remaining board members are volunteers tasked with overseeing the operations/strategy of the organization. The CEO reports to the board. I would also check and see if your Y is a United Way agency. If so, you may be able to file a complaint with United Way in your community. United away can't technically "make" them do anything but if they receive United away funding that may motivate them to address your concern. I would take these steps before contacting the national YMCA. Good luck.

Socialworkgirl

Ugh, sorry for the typos and lack of paragraph breaks... All the United Aways should be United Way. Hopefully you get the gist.

Hollylb3

@Socialworkgirl‌, I knew what you meant. As it turns out, one of my best friends' brothers is on the board. That may come in handy. Thanks for the info!

Andrewsgal

I agree with CJ on this. Also I bet if you go at 8 instead it will be less crowded.

Hollylb3

Actually, there is nowhere else to go, because it's the only place in town with childcare, and I'm paying for the family membership so he can stay. DH never goes. When someone says they provide child care, I assume that to mean a safe place for children to stay. Could anyone really afford to pay a sitter while they workout every single day? Not me.

LoveBeingMama

I actually don't think she is making a bigger deal out of it than necessary. The gym I go to (which is In the park district building) has to follow DCFS guidelines for child/teacher ratios, even with all of the parents in the building. This includes limiting the number of infants. They prefer you to call ahead because if you just walk in and they are at legal capacity, they will turn you down. It would shock me if OP's gym wasn't held to similar guidelines. It's in the best interest of the gym to limit numbers of children to reduce liability. I don't expect the minimum wage workers to teach and engage with and entertain my kids; They often pop in a video or the kids run around playing with toys. I do however, expect them to not get in over their heads with too many children and not be able adequately supervise them all.

Andrewsgal

LoveBeingMama said:

I actually don't think she is making a bigger deal out of it than necessary. The gym I go to (which is In the park district building) has to follow DCFS guidelines for child/teacher ratios, even with all of the parents in the building. This includes limiting the number of infants. They prefer you to call ahead because if you just walk in and they are at legal capacity, they will turn you down. It would shock me if OP's gym wasn't held to similar guidelines. It's in the best interest of the gym to limit numbers of children to reduce liability. I don't expect the minimum wage workers to teach and engage with and entertain my kids; They often pop in a video or the kids run around playing with toys. I do however, expect them to not get in over their heads with too many children and not be able adequately supervise them all.

I seriously don't know why people can't read. The OP already said the gym does NOT have to follow state guidelines.

Andrewsgal

Hollylb3 said:

Actually, there is nowhere else to go, because it's the only place in town with childcare, and I'm paying for the family membership so he can stay. DH never goes. When someone says they provide child care, I assume that to mean a safe place for children to stay. Could anyone really afford to pay a sitter while they workout every single day? Not me.

So tomorrow get there at 8:00 and see if it's better.

Hollylb3

DS typically doesn't wake up until 8. My workout partner also has 4 kids to get out the door. It's not really an option.

Andrewsgal

Hollylb3 said:

DS typically doesn't wake up until 8. My workout partner also has 4 kids to get out the door. It's not really an option.

so typical of you holly, an excuse for every solution that doesn't line up with your opinion. I know this is crazy but you can work out alone.

Hollylb3

Andrewsgal said:

Hollylb3 said:

DS typically doesn't wake up until 8. My workout partner also has 4 kids to get out the door. It's not really an option.

so typical of you holly, an excuse for every solution that doesn't line up with your opinion. I know this is crazy but you can work out alone.

I'm not looking for excuses. I have a time that I like to workout and it's within the time frames that they provide childcare. I should be able to workout then. They have a class that starts at 8, so it's probably just as bad then.

I didn't ask for solutions; I asked if it was illegal.

lyingliarlies

cjcouple said:

Personally, I think you making this a bigger deal than it is. The child care is there as a service of courtesy. correct?  

 If you don't like it, you are free to go elsewhere or get a sitter of your own.

  

If she were complaining about them leaving the tv on all the time or otherwise not providing some kind of enriching activity, then I'd totally agree. But 25 kids with one worker? No way.

My gym will have 3 or 4 ladies when it gets that busy, pulling someone from the front desk if needed. I just noticed that they have several new workers this week since school's out.

Andrewsgal

Okay well you yourself googled it and found out it was totally legal so it looks like google is a good choice for questions that you don't actually want solutions for.

Hollylb3

cjcouple said:

Just out of curiosity if it was illegal, what would you do? Report them?  Then you would really be shit out of luck if their license was pulled or worse, they were closed down.  

Just get a sitter. Or work it out with your gym partner to swap kids instead or working out together.  

Yeah, I probably would report it because I can virtually guarantee you they won't ditch the service. They know how much of their business depends on it based on how many kids are in there every day. Like I said, I know they have the money to do something about it.

And no, I'm not offering to watch my friends' 4 kids just to get to work out, lol. I'd take him on the track with me before I did that.

Geicogecko

four less kids if you go without your friend at 8!