LA Fitness Complaint

LA Fitness Complaint

What LA Fitness did:
7/19/22

As *****m recovering from a recent , 7/18/22 major invasive kidney surgery this is the last thing I should be dealing with however given the severity of just some of the events that have transpired in recent months and days while *****m still under the employ with LA fitness , it has been suggested to me personally my Workers Comp Attorneys and other professionals that I obtain ***** additional Attorney***** and bring litigation against LA Fitness . It just has to be ***** Attorney that has some experience with this type of ever changing , case . Basically I was told it’s “ getting very dangerous for you to even be there”I definitely understand that but this company should not be allowed to treat employees the way they do***** so I While I can’***** be everyone’s savior***** but I can definitely protect myself . In addition***** it’s very negligent on the part of LA Fitness to keep ***** individual like this General Manager under their employ. For me personally and other employees***** it’s emotionally distressing to not know what kind of odd mood or weird behavior this woman that I don’***** even report to , is going to be in ! *****ve worked for some of the best companies in the world and her behavior would never be tolerated .

As *****m recovering from surgery , *****ll start with ***** incident that occurred on 7/12/22. I was working my normal closing shift , when approximately 9 pm a small group of people came in I verified their memberships as per protocol to allow entrance but I immediately recognized this one person as someone we had to ban from the gym for Harrassing other members***** threatening them with a gun both inside the gym and outside of the gym , His name is Damian ***** , so when I asked him his name to look him up his response was “ *****m Fredrick “ I said does Frederick have any ID on him***** he immediately became defensive***** saying no I do ***** have *****d *****m just here to play basketball so I pulled up his revoked / denied *****, adjusted the screen so he could see it and told him “ you are in revoked denied status***** he asked “ why” I told him if he needed further explanation he could call corporate in the morning***** his immediate response was “ You know how I roll and *****m packing***** I know what you drive , I know when you leave , and *****m going to shoot you”

Since we do not have absolutely any security there none whatsoever***** I felt that I was not willing to take a bullet for LA Fitness so just like the last time when he did this same stuff to other employees and members , when the police were called , the families of the victims decided not to press charges or file a police report out of fear***** however today on 8/2/22 I am going to BSO and *****m filing now that I have recovered from surgery fully .

I brought this to the attention of corporate that this situation is getting out of control and as a person with a disability my physician drafted a very strong letter to LA Fitness recommending that they immediately implement security measures for the night shift fir their members and guests.. as of 8/2 /22 they gave not , only telling me they “ were looking into it”. Also known as placating.
In most businesses especially nowadays when you hear the words*****

Shoot*****

Threat

Cause Harm

I have a gun/ weapon

These are immediate words that would send most ethical companies into immediate protection mode***** sadly , as you will see , LA Fitness does not care about the safety of their members***** employees and their guests***** that’s one of the reasons there are so many lawsuits against them . I was subsequently told by other LA Fitness employees that “ LA Fitness is not going to spend any money on security “ Furthermore***** unbeknownst to me several of these employees also told me to look up / google shootings and incidents at LA Fitness and shockingly there are similar incidents going back like 12 years***** most recently a woman was attacked on6/28/22 I. North Miami LA fitness who was attacked by another member with a metal bar and beaten over the head !

To add insult to injury also on July 12 th ,( prior to me being threatened to be shot at the front desk , Area Manager Robert Hinkson “attempted” to fire me because I had reported the illegalities of the Managers that constantly creates a hostile work environment for not just the employees but the members and their guests directly to HR ., did they do anything ?? No ! Absolutely nothing except told me we will discuss these issues with her.

How about reprimanding her for breaking the EEOC Federal Hostile Work Environment Law??? No not a thing was done..

*****ll illustrate some of these issues for you to have a better understanding. Why they allow her to get away with such behavior nobody really knows***** but in any other ethical business she would have been terminated a long time ago ( she was fired once before***** but fir some unknown reason they bright her back***** most likely because she probably makes them money because that’s all LA Fitness cares about us money***** they will overlook illegalities for the sake of their bottom line:

Let’s start with ***** incident that occurred a few months back with me personally. Obviously since I have a documented disability which LA Fitness is aware of because I was very upfront about it before accepting this position and even had my physician draft a document advising them of the data and times that I could work , because o. The days I cannot work *****m either at Doctors appointments***** Urologist appointments or with my Primary physician.

With regards to the hostile work environment she creates***** it’s very voluminous***** but I can give you ***** idea on how bad it is .

On one occasion***** I had come into work on a Sunday and
I went behind the front desk as usual to do what I always do check in member***** collect past due balances etc .

She normally stays in her sales area but in this particular day***** ( again I was just returning from another Kidney surgery***** so apparently they had hired this new kid who I already knew I was going to have to help train and I was happy to do it. Joan Vento the sales Manager immediately comes behind the front desk Kicks one of the stools/ chairs we sit in at the desk so hard it slammed against the wall and in my mind I said to myself***** “ oh boy get ready this is not going to be a fun day , but *****ve seen her behavior before Even reported it to corporate before***** and of course they did nothing then either !!!! that first report was probably 6 months ago***** when I reported it , they told me “ we discussed her behavior with her”

Back to the most recent hostile work environment incident***** so she kicks the chair back it slams against the wall and she starts screaming at guests and members “ are you a member***** is your guest registered***** did they sign the waiver of liability***** are you on a guest pass “?

Ive even seen her chase dome members running up the stairs just to verify that a person is ***** actual member***** then she screams fron the second floor” James can you verify their ***** by pulling up their phone number***** it’s so embarrassing and unprofessional and when she finds out that they are not just members but long term members***** it’s just very awkward and unprofessional*****,and again they always come to myself or someone at the front desk asking “ how do I report her to corporate “ we all give them the information to do so but we all know they aren’***** going to do anything about her***** several members know she was fired before and tried to tell us what they believe happened***** but honestly nobody knows and at this point *****m just felling so targeted and personally attacked I just font care I just know that as a person with enough stress from my medical conditions and being a person with a disability***** she***** they ( La Fitness) have already violated my Americans With Disabity Act .. but *****m sure they don’***** even know what exactly that is or entails..

She literally had approximately 20 plus people being held up I. The lobby and 90 percent of them I know just from dealing with them , their memberships are in good standing and if they have guests with them , their guests are registered , waivers are already signed and all they want to do is walk into the gym get in their workouts , and not have to deal with the stress
and hostility she brings into that gym .

So this continues approximately for like 20 minutes***** which when you’ve got members upset that they have to endure this and the added stress to myself and even the new kid it seemed like ***** eternity .

Members were literally coming up to me asking me” who do I/ we need to speak with ti cancel my *****? I pointed to her ( Joan Vento ) most of them said to me “ but you’re a Manager right? I said no , *****m just ***** employee***** and for whatever reason they said well you should be the Manager because you conduct yourself like a professional***** which even made the situation worse for me because not only did she hear this but it made her even more hostile. As the lobby continues to get packed with people she’s interrogating / questioning their memberships the poor new kid they hired has alert stepped away from the desk by the wall watching this all play out in utter disbelief. Finally someone came in that actually wanted to buy a ***** and she walked away from the front desk and took the person into the sales area and did her thing***** meanwhile***** we still had to deal with the members that were inconvenienced and some cancelled***** they all wanted her name , the corporate phone number***** and mist of them said “ How can LA Furness allow her to even work here with that kind of behavior ???

( that’s the question *****ve been asking myself for months ,having worked for some of the biggest and best companies in the world , I know , this type of behavior would be grounds for immediate termination)
I just said , I don’***** have ***** answer for you. . Her behaviors are not only hostile her approach to selling memberships is abrasive and she even conveniently forgets to not disclose to members about their “ annual fee’s” which ultimately 90 percent of these members end up at the front desk and it’s always the same thing: “ what is this $52.43 charge for , we were told by her( Joan Vento ) there was a zero registration fee” then they point to the signage that’s all over the gym that does in fact say 0 registration fee” ( again sales is not my department and I don’***** sell memberships)

Most of them just end up cancelling and saying “ she’s using deceptive sales practices***** just cancel our ***** “

So back to the “ attempted termination “
On July 12 th a few hours before I was threatened to be shot and killed.

Area Manager Robert Hinkston***** was having a discussion with me saying “ I just don’***** see how you and Joni ( the Sales Manager) can work together***** I just don’***** see it working out”. Like you want to fire me for her illegal behavior??

Of course none of this conversation was NEVER documented at all nor was anything ever put in writing . I just said to him , go ahead***** terminate me. It’s La Fitness being negligent keeping her under their employ “ he thought about what I said and said “ are you sure you can work with her?” I said yes***** but her “ issues “ need to seriously be addressed “
That was the end of that conversation***** until like a week later . Apparently a few months ago when she was actually trying to be friendly with me***** she came up to me and said “ james I just got off a conference call with my boss , I think he’s leaving , *****m not sure I just have this feeling inside “

She then said” what am I going to do?”
I looked at her and said” what are you talking about? “

She said***** I don’***** know anything else but selling fitness”

I told her “ look , you are good at selling , there’s plenty of companies that would love you’re selling abilities “ ( no let’s not forget she still has issues)
But I was trying to make her feel better , she said what else could I do?

I said if I were you and you’re feeling the way you do***** Personally , *****d be look into 2 companies that I think are going to be game changers in the travel industry***** Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection***** and Virgin Voyages”owned by Richard Branson .

Would you believe she actually TOLD Human Resources’s that I was trying to recruit her / solicit her to work for these companies!!!! Lol ,, when HR asked me about this I cleared that up real quick***** “ I told them no actually she approached me and asked me what I would do if I were in her situation***** they immediately knew I was telling the truth.. she was asking me for advice then twisted it around to say I was trying to recruit her and solicit her !! I have no connections at either of these companies***** I just happen to stay on top of things and not just breeze through life completely oblivious to everything else going on in the world and MY focus is not about ruining peoples lives and creating a hostile work environment. Seriously***** to make NEGATIVE comments about Jewish people
African Americans or ANY person irrespective of race Cole***** religion or sexuality is definitely not a good trait to have. Even worse , when all of these people are contributing ti her paycheck !!!

Completely Unacceptable!!

I said on that conference call “ is there anything else we need to discuss because we are busy and I need to get back to work”

Subsequently , it’s been like two months since she’s spoken to me. She is now even walking out the back door just to avoid me when she leaves at night .. there’s gotta be something really bad going on in her life for her to spend , 12 plus hours a day selling memberships***** I actually feel bad for her. ( why I don’***** know***** but moving forward***** that is no longer the case !!!!

All of this while my own Manger who I actually work for was out of the country with his wife!

I said seriously so are you sure you want to go from me being employed to moving straight to termination***** while She’s the one creating a hostile work environment? He sits back and thinks about it. Then says but you’ve reported her to Human Resources before.
My response is because her illegal behavior was happening , before , it was wrong then it’s still wrong now!!!And it’s still happening now and you and the people at corporate are doing nothing about it.
( Corporate by the way is a PO Box I. Irvine ,California***** not that that’s important)

Then he says can you work with her ?

My response to him was “ look *****ve worked for and been trained by some of the biggest and best companies/ airlines in the world , Pan ***** 1 &2***** The Corporate offices of Royal Caribbean***** in incentive Sales ( doing charters***** not reservations) Air France and a couple of private corporate jet airlines***** *****ve been trained by the FAA***** TSA***** Department of Homeland Security and even the CIA , in addition***** *****ve flown Presidential Charters***** so to answer you’re question if I can deal with 300 people at 30*****000 feet in the air for a. Extended length of time , I can deal with her. I did say however if her hostility continues towards me , I will continue to report the incidents.

His response was “ as you should we want to know” because HE ( Area Manager Robert Hinkston) sensed at this point he knew that I was in the right and attempting to terminate me would not ne in the companies best interest.
One of the reasons he wanted to fire me was because he said I was sending a text onMy phone behind the front desk***** to which I responded “ really***** shall we look at video footage of other employees completing and working on their college courses on their laptops and never looking up to greet a member ??? Then he had nothing to say***** so I said either you’re firing me or *****m going back to the front desk which at that point was very busy and chaotic and I did not want to see the new person go through all of that alone. So that date was July 12 , 2022

Think about the above scenario I am describing..

They wanted to fire me yet after numerous attempts to at least get them to try and help this woman change her behavior***** apparently they figured “ oh just fire him and we have to keep her because she’s making the company money”

Well she’s doesn’***** have the best reputation in the company for being ***** ethical***** kind person***** but she does make them money!!!!

I was definitely not hired to do damage control or assist LA fitness with assessing their “ high liability risk employees***** not for $ 10.00 per hour!

Then I had to have another surgery on July 18th on the other kidney . So I had to take another week off these surgeries they knew about well in advance and there was no issues regarding staffing whatsoever***** everything was provided to my own boss weeks in advance .

Actually I didn’tt even take the full week off that my Doctor Recommed***** I actually came back on Sunday June 24 th . While I was out I received and email from Area Manager Robert Hinkston again***** saying , we’ve addressed the matters including the shooting threat . And we will discuss this with you when you’re recovered from you’re surgery.
So I was back ***** entire week and he never had that additional discussion with me til 8/1 /22 and this was a conference call with myself him and the woman from Hunan Resources whom *****ve spoken to once before when it became absolutely unbearable to continue with dealing with hostile work environment that Sales Manager Joni Vento , creates.

So on August 1 , the meeting started out fine***** my first question bead ,so what type of security measures are you implementing regarding the safety ans security of the members and employees?

“ oh we are looking into that***** possibly might bring in ***** outside security company but nothing has been decided yet. So I had told them “ even with what I just saw in the news about another one of our locations?

Her response was “ there’s more to that story I said I just am telling you what I saw on. The news” woman bludgeoned In aerobics class at LA fitness North Miami Beach”

Then the conversation shifted back to this Sales Manager , telling me she’s “ just doing her job” I said no what she’s doing is illegal . They both went silent.

Then back to the shooting attempt***** I told them I think it’s in my best interest to file a report with BSO on Tuesday 8/2 / 22

They immediately responded if you need any information from us we care here for you***** I told them I already have everything I need his name , address***** phone number. *****ll take care of it myself.

Subsequently***** after that conference call I was told that while u was recovering from. My last surgery*****
Sales Manager Joan Vento had made a comment about the Operations Manager Frank Hayne
Saying “ Why can Frank keep a staff and mine all resign”? I had NO response***** she actually was waiting for me to give her ***** answer! My answer would have been “ because nobody wants to deal with you’re constant mood swings and hostility in the workplace “

I was shocked***** but then given her hostility towards people Oh including doing Jewish accents***** African American accents and Asian accents , I wasn’***** shocked. From her own sakes staff apparently when she sells a ***** to a certain person***** she will do accents mimicking them once they have left her desk and are out of earshot . So they cannot hear her .

Her hostile work environment especially towards me has to be stopped***** months ago she caused ***** older lady so much stress when I came into work this ( coworker)lady begged me to go home early because Joni was causing her so much stress***** I said of course***** go home take care and take your meds***** don’***** worry I can handle this. Subsequently***** she had a stoke and never came back!!!

Another kid same situation***** told me the “ stress “and anxiety of having to work near / with Joan Vento was so bad he had to resign. Now the kid is under a doctors care and on a benzo !

There was another kid , who just quit. A few days ago***** .. several months ago I. The middle of COVID. I come into the gym to work and Joan Vento immediately comes up to me asking me “ where’s Dante?, he’s been gone from the front desk for 5 minutes. I said give me a second I just walked in the door , then she proceeded to say to me” oh come James , you know how “ They “ are he’s probably home counting his welfare and food stamp balance”!!!!

She even further tried to drag me into her racist , diluted frame of Mind by saying “ you and I were raised differently***** we weren’***** raised like the blacks and Jews , the blacks snd Jews just want everything for free”
At that point I said to her***** “ You are so wrong for saying this***** *****m not like you , I definitely don’***** know you , you and I have Nothing in common , *****m in complete disagreement with your racist remarks and walked away from her” !!!
Well actually he was interpreting one of the female janitors COVID results from English ti Creole for her!!!

The situation there for me is beyond toxic and her hostility just won’***** stop***** I don’***** know if she has something on the company that makes her impossible to fire her***** I would have NO way of k owing this***** but for the sake of my own health and hopefully some changes will be made with regards to the other employees that have to endure her daily hostility***** something will come out of this fir them as well , because IF there’s no agreement between her and the company that she can never be fired again***** then they are in violation of allowing her to violate the Federal EEOC laws regarding hostility and violent outbursts in the workplace.

*****m hoping that you can assist me with my situation at LA Fitness , *****ve. Spoken to other Attorneys about this and they are willing to file a demand letter / litigation***** I just want to make sure I have the right Attorney to represent me.

The emotional toll***** depression , unnecessary stress this is causing me is taking its toll on my mental and physical well being , I have no idea who or where to turn to , and quitting is not ***** option***** it’s not even in my work vocabulary! This woman may have broken down a lot if people over the years***** but nit me. They rehired her in September of 2021 like 2 moths after I started this part time nightmare job***** during which time *****ve seen her go through probably 70 to 80 sales people***** no one ever stays in her department. It’s a bad***** toxic illegal environment they ( La fitness ) is allowing to continue***** and they are negligent to continue to allow her to behave like this all because she can make them money. It’s pathetic!

As of August 30***** 2022 , LA fitness has now shared my private information regarding my injury with those that DO Not have a legal business need to know***** they have discussed my health ( hippa protected ) health information with my coworkers while I was out for 2 weeks dealing with my injury***** they have even showed the videos of me being taken out by the paramedics on a stretcher to those that do not have a business need to know . *****ve only been back to work for 3 days and *****m sure they are going to keep messing up , my Attorney only can handle my workers comp case , my physician advised me to contact your office to see how you might be able to assist me with bringing attention to this matter and any legal individuals that can assist as he said this is a MAJOR bad situation that a major corporation that is actually being supported by a lot of the LGBTQ community***** and LA Fitness needs to be held accountable for their negligent mishandling of this situation. Yes I will fully cooperate with you if if you suggest taking it to the media***** you can count on me to stand by my story and tell it to whoever you deem necessary.. at this point***** it’s about correcting these serious illegal , discriminatory .

As of 9/21/22

I was advised by another Attorney that I should file a Cease and Desist order against this particular out of control Manager Joan Vento for defamation and slander immediately and I should advise or ask my workers Comp Attorneys to suggest/ Recommend am additional Attorney to handle these issues especially since this Sakes Manager ( who I dint even report to or work for ) Carrie’s a GUN into the gym.
The Cease and Desist was sent to her on 09/21/22 and the request for ***** Attorney that’s Capable and qualified to handle and address these issues from a legal standpoint because as other Mangers have told me “ she doesn’***** even understand that what she’s doing is 100 percent illegal***** she even said to other members and employees “ La fitness will never fire me***** *****d have to KILL somebody in order for that to ever happen” !!!!!

“ KILL Somebody “ ok there’s definitely something that someone is completely missing the point on here . Even their own workers comp Dr. Said “ now she’s actually using the words” Kill Somebody “ oh you definitely have to make noise , I don’***** want you dead***** this WAS a simple workers comp case when this occurred***** but now you need to either Find the right Attorney that can handle this challenge***** and *****d even recommend speaking with the authorities too. Someone has to intervene***** if HR is unwilling to control her***** you HAVE to do something before she SNAPS “

9/29/22

Rosenberg and Rosenberg had now been hired and Gallagher Law Firm has been terminated by me for falling short on their promise to find me a additional Attorney to handle all of these other issues .

That’s from Their OWN workers comp Dr. That oversees my physical therapy.

As of 9/30/22

I definitely still need to hire a Civil Attorney to handle the other issues as illustrated above .
With kind regards*****

James Morotti
5296 Northeast 1 Terrace
Fort Lauderdale*****FL 33334

Phone : 954-393-6602
Email: morotti22145@yahoo.com

What would you like the company to do to fix the problem?

Submitted by: Anonymous in Florida | Read more LA Fitness complaints


Tell us your LA Fitness complaint


Read More:


More complaints about:

X