According to the San Francisco Business Times, employees of the gym chain 24 Hour Fitness have filed a class-action lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court alleging race and gender discrimination on the part of their employer. The employees allege that the San Ramon-based company’s employment practices systematically discriminated against female and minority employees, resulting in lower pay and the denial of promotions for female and minority employees. They accuse their employer of violating California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and the California Business and Profession Code.
The employees who brought the lawsuit claim they received unequal pay and were passed up for promotions to management positions. The lawsuit asks the court to order 24 Hour Fitness to end their allegedly discriminatory hiring and promotions practices. The employees are also asking the court to order their employer to pay damages and back pay to correct the allegedly unequal compensation and unfair treatment.
24 Hour Fitness employs 20,500 people and has revenues of around $1.25 billion. It is the country’s largest gym chain. Its 420 clubs across 17 states have a combined total of around 4 million members.
The gym chain says that it complies with all employment laws. The company says it is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to creating a workplace free of discrimination and retaliation. The employer believes that when the facts come out, it will be shown that 24 Hour Fitness does not discriminate against its employees.
Source:
24 Hour Fitness sued for race, gender bias (San Francisco Business Times)