AITA for Being Firm with Late Gym-Goers After Closing Time?
AITA for being short with people leaving after closing? OP shares a frustrating encounter at the gym when two guys linger past closing time, prompting a debate on who was in the wrong.
Some people hear “we close at 10” and treat it like a suggestion. In this Reddit post, a 26-year-old gym employee is the one stuck cleaning up the mess after hours, and she is not in the mood to be polite about it.
She picked up a Friday closing shift, even though she usually does not close. An hour before closing she warns late arrivals, because Monday to Thursday is 11 pm, and people apparently forget that detail. Then she keeps using the intercom, 30 minutes out and every 10 minutes after, telling everyone to start wrapping up and head to the front.
But two guys were still hanging around in the locker room long after 10, and when she finally tells them to go, the argument turns into a whole vibe shift.
Original Post
I am going to preface this by saying I know this is not a big deal but I am annoyed so I need to know if I was justified or not. I (26F) work at a big chain gym and we close at 10 pm on Fridays.
I do not usually close but I picked up a shift today as a favor. About an hour before closing I warn people coming in that we close at 10pm because on Monday-Thursday we close at 11pm so some people don’t know.
30 min before closing and every 10 mins after I warn people on the intercoms we are closing in \_\_\_ minutes and to please start cleaning up and making your way to the front. I get pretty much everyone out of the gym by 10:08 except for two guys who are in the locker room.
I asked the guys who left before them if anyone is still in there and they let me know there are two guys still there. I am waiting at the front desk when they finally slowly walk up around 10:15 pm.
They don’t seem apologetic at all and stop walking to look at something on their phones. I tell them (kind of in annoyed tone) “come on guys the gym closed 15 min ago”
They respond with “you don’t have to be rude about it”
Me: “I have things to do”
Them: “it’s 10 pm”
Me: “and it’s past closing get out”
Them: “Be nice about it” (in a commanding tone)
At this point I ignore them, they seem to be in the late teens early 20s if that matters.
I know I could have been nicer and now I kind of feel bad about it. But still, I’m curious who people think is more of an a*****e in this situation.
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It also echoes the tech worker clashing with HR over a strict dress code.
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Right after she gets almost everyone out by 10:08, the only holdouts are two guys still in the locker room, and she has to wait at the front desk for them to finally surface.</p>
When they stroll up around 10:15 and start checking their phones, her annoyed “the gym closed 15 minutes ago” lands way harsher than she probably intended.</p>
The moment they snap back with “you don’t have to be rude about it” and “be nice about it,” the late-night power struggle is fully on.</p>
After she tells them it is past closing and ignores their attitude, she is left wondering if she was justified or if she should have handled those two guys differently.</p>
Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section.
She might have been firm, but those two late gym-goers were acting like closing time is optional.
Want more workplace credit drama? Read how OP refused to share project report recognition.
