Steve Nash Fitness World’s Former Employees Seek Legal Help After Being Terminated

After Steve Nash Fitness World fired all of its B.C. staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its former employees are worried the gym may not be able to afford severance pay or be able to rehire them once the crisis subsides.

According to GlobalNews.ca, the Vancouver-based fitness club fired all of its employees who worked at its physical gym locations. The gyms were closed because of federal and provincial orders meant to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Former Steve Nash Fitness World employees are now saying that they aren’t getting consistent messages about their final pay.

Global News has reportedly obtained a letter from Steve Nash Fitness World’s president and CEO Chris Smith that was sent to staff on March 17. The letter stated that all 24 B.C. locations would be temporarily closed due to the restrictions on gatherings imposed because of the COVID-19 crisis.

On March 19, active staff received an email informing them they would be paid through the end of the month. On March 24, they were informed by email that they were being terminated immediately.

“The indefinite closure of our clubs (all brands & the CSC) due to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many difficult decisions for the company,” the letter says. “While the company has explored all options to continue operations and protect our team members’ continued employment, we do not see a way forward at this time.”

On March 25, employees reportedly received another email letting them know that they would not be paid through the end of March as originally promised.

Derek Ralphs is one of approximately 1,200 employees that are affected by Steve Nash Fitness World’s closure.

“I thought I was still going to get paid for the final two weeks of March, and now it seems I’m only going to get paid for that one day I worked on the 17th,” Ralphs told Global News. In addition to the lost income, he is concerned about his future now that he’s been terminated from his job as a fitness instructor.

“It’s like, what am I going to do now? Am I going to be able to teach again still?”

Other former employees are suspicious of Steve Nash Fitness World’s motives.

“What’s happening right now with the coronavirus is so upsetting and it’s such a hardship but I think some companies — and in my belief that is Steve Nash Fitness World too — is using this as a way to clean house,” former employee Louise Lawton said.

Steve Nash Fitness World is already facing a $20 million class action lawsuit over allegations it failed to properly pay its employees.

Plaintiff Sharon Freeman says the problems started when Steve Nash Fitness World merged with another gym she was working for in 2009. She says her hours were improperly recorded or altered to increase Steve Nash Fitness World’s profitability.

The Steve Nash Fitness World class action lawsuit also says the gym failed to properly pay employees for overtime, statutory holidays and contractual wage rates.

Class Members of the unpaid overtime class action lawsuit include current or former non-managerial employees of Steve Nash Fitness World from July 2017 to July 2019.

The Class Period only covers two years because that is all that is allowed under the applicable statute of limitations. Freeman says the issues went on longer than two years but she was unaware of the issue until November 2018 when she noticed she hadn’t been paid properly for a statutory holiday she had worked.

Freeman also claims that she and other employees were subjected to intimidation by their superiors for discussing legal options.

Steve Nash Fitness World has denied any wrongdoing.

A Change.org petition that has been signed by more than 1,700 individuals is currently circulating. It is asking for a formal investigation into the business practices of Steve Nash Fitness World, including the manner in which it has handled its COVID-19 response. The petition asks for an investigation to be conducted by WorkSafe BC, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and Employment Standards BC.

Employees are not the only ones to be concerned about their future with Steve Nash Fitness World. Long-time gym members who have paid for access to the fitness club are also searching for answers about getting a refund now that the gyms are closed indefinitely.

Esteemed basketball player Steve Nash himself has also sued the fitness club seeking to have his name removed from the gyms. He is no longer affiliated with the company.

What do you think about the gym terminating all of its employees? Should they be compensated through the end of March as originally announced? Tell us your opinion in the comment section below!

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