Personal Trainers File Whistle-blower Lawsuit Against Lifetime and Seek Class Action Status For Wage Claims

When we all go to work each day and work hard for our money, we expect that the companies we work for will pay us the proper wages that we earned. We also expect that if we see something wrong with a companies’ practices and report it that we will not be retaliated against for doing the right thing. Unfortunately, many companies do not pay employees what they are owed or engage in practices that are illegal so they can make more money.   If you or someone you know has been terminated for blowing the whistle on a business or if you have not received wages that you worked for, you should speak to an employment and wage lawyer at The Higgins Firm. We will listen to your claims and see to it that you get compensation that is rightfully yours for the hours you have worked.

According to this lawsuit two former personal trainers of the fitness club chain,  Lifetime Fitness, Jared Steger and David Ramsey, claim that their former employer has become one of America’s fastest growing fitness chains by deliberately and intentionally underpaying and deceiving its employees in a predatory manner which leads to excessively high turnover rate and widespread dissatisfaction with working conditions.  The lawsuit was filed against Lifetime Fitness after the two personal trainers were terminated. According to their complaint, the reason that was stated for Steger’s termination was because of his failure to turn in an “inventory count” on time, and Ramsey was allegedly fired for “discussing a co-worker’s employment status” the following day.     However, Steger and Ramsey,  assert management at the Lifetime Fitness club, fired them in retaliation for trying to notify them of the problems stemming from the handling of client payments and memberships. They claim that their terminations represent a violation of Whistle-blower laws that forbid employers from firing workers who refuse to engage in what they believe to be illegal activities. The trainers allege they were pressured to take part in credit fraud and deception.

The suit notes Steger, in April 2013 following repeated attempts to persuade his manager to stop the alleged practice and refund clients’ and former clients’ money, notified Lifetime Fitness management that “multiple clients” had been double-billed and electronic funds transfers had been altered so money could be drafted from clients’ credit cards and bank accounts without authorization. The lawsuit is also seeking compensation for unpaid wages and overtime because  Steger and Ramsey claim they were each owed more than $80,000 in unpaid back wages, including unpaid regular wages and overtime, for work they performed for Lifetime Fitness.  They allege the company has a policy of requiring personal trainers to perform unpaid work before and after supervising workouts with clients, and to meet with clients and management off the clock. They claim trainers often would work 70 to 90 hours a week, but not be paid for the majority of those hours. Trainers were also pressured by management to not clock in at certain times to avoid “taking pay away from managers” under a draw system. Steger and Ramsey accuse Lifetime Fitness of violating labor and wage laws, as well as the state’s Whistle-blower statue, and retaliatory discharge.  Since these actions potentially involved other personal trainers who worked for Lifetime Fitness, the trainers are asking the court to let them notify other potential plaintiffs and allow the suit to proceed as a class action.

If you or someone you work with has been fired for reporting unethical and illegal business practices or you have not been paid the proper wages that you earned, you should contact one of our experienced Tennessee employment and wage lawyers with The Higgins Firm. We will answer any questions you may have and work hard to make sure you get the compensation you deserve for what you have been through.   Please contact us today online or by calling 800.705.2121 to discuss your legal options.