A gym-goer shared a now-viral video showing a sign at a PureGym location informing members that they risk suspension if they do not return their weights to their designated spots.
Posted by TikTok user @robherbertfit, the video was viewed nearly 400,000 times and sparked a debate about the policy.
“Don’t skip your last exercise,” the caption of the video read. “Put your weights away.”
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According to Healthline, there are some points to be mindful of when going to the gym, including wiping down equipment, not speaking on the phone and cleaning up when finished with the equipment.
“Leaving weights, kettlebells, foam rollers, mats or other equipment around is a safety hazard in a busy space,” the article states. “Additionally, if you leave your plates racked, your dumbbells on a bench, or your towel on a machine, it sends a signal that the equipment is occupied, and people will not feel like they can use that equipment.”
The piece said the gym is a public space and gym-goers should be mindful of leaving it in the same condition as they found it.
“Please put your weights away when you have finished,” the sign read. “Failure to do this could result in your membership being suspended.”
A PureGym spokesperson wrote to Newsweek that its staff looks to provide a safe place for everyone to work out. They aim to keep the gyms clean, invest in high-quality equipment and plan the layout to ensure access and mobility for all members.
“We want to keep our members safe, avoid any accidents and keep our equipment in good condition, which is why we ask members at all of our gyms to clean down and put away their equipment after they’ve finished using it,” the spokesperson said. “It’s also the right thing to do out of respect for fellow gym-goers.”
She said staff will speak with gym members who leave their weights out to make sure they are aware of the rules. It’s after a conversation is had that they consider suspending a membership.
The spokesperson said that suspension is rare as most members abide by the policy.
Although many members have no issue following the rule, the comments section of @robherbertfit’s video was split.
Some viewers disagreed with the policy in place.
“Gyms still think [they’re] not in the service industry,” a viewer wrote. “Imagine if retailers and hotels put rules in place.”
“And what’s next? To mop the floor after finishing?” another viewer asked.
“I don’t put my weights away someone else will use anyways,” one viewer wrote.
However, many applauded the policy.
“I wish we had this in our gym,” a viewer commented.
“I absolutely hate seeing people leaving their weights lying around, surely if they can use them they can put them back too,” another comment read.
“Nobody seems to know old school gym etiquette,” one commenter wrote.
Newsweek reached out to @robherbertfit for comment.
The topic of gym etiquette is one that has been previously discussed online.
Fitness coach Joey Swoll went viral for his response to a woman who said her “biggest gym pet peeve” is being asked how many sets she has left in her workout.
Another video reportedly shows the moment that a gym-goer grabbed the weights out of a fitness influencer’s just after she set them on the floor.
One woman faced backlash after she reportedly asked a fellow gym member to move out of the way so that she could film in that spot.
