Planet Fitness

My Richland, Wa. Planet Fitness membership was abruptly cancelled on Jan 17, 2022 without warning at the check-in desk. The reason — "complaining to employee"? The supervisor said that "she was going to have none of it". I was given no chance to discuss the matter. I don't know the details of the complaint.

All I could do was say thank you and immediately left.

It's too bad that the supervisor reacted to something instead of acted! I think the supervisor listened to the wrong person — a troubled employee who in my view committed at least 5 Code of Ethics violations (including 2 personal ones against me) which I will detail in this posting.

The supervisor has a "duty" to determine the facts. When a person (in a position of authority) acts wrongfully or negligently (in my case) a cause of action is available to myself under legal tort theory when there is harm.

About a dozen e-mails were exchanged between the employee in question in this filing and myself over about a 6 week period ending on January 4, 2022.

(or a little over a week before my membership was cancelled). These exchanges consistently document the repeated thanks I received for my help for trying to find this employee housing, another part-time job, community resources for the homeless and possible careers in the Coast Guard (U.S. Military). I was asked for help at his request and tried my very best as an advocate. I was never asked to stop helping. In a jury trial, I would move for "summary judgement" because the key facts are not in dispute from the e-mail evidence I possess.

Unfortunately, I believe that at least 5 serious Code of Ethics violations were committed by this employee (including 2 against me personally).

The employee used the position at his check-in desk to paint of desperate picture of how he was out of money for food and gas twice in December of 2021. He explained that his savings had dwindled when he moved here to virtually nothing and was about to be asked to leave his shared apartment.

I felt pressured to help him out of my Christian charity and generosity and gave him a gift on 3 different occasions ($100 handed over the check-in desk at work, another $150 in an envelope, $20 handed over the desk and finally $100 in an envelope. I felt so terrible about his situation and how was he going to emerge from it (and I tried to discuss the situation and options with his co-workers). I really did not know for sure who the supervisor was.

In a December 18, 2021 e-mail to me, this employee told me that he was now "homeless" and that he would do whatever he had to do. But also in the same e-mail was a comment that he used the money he had been saving for another apartment was used to buy a new phone!? It seems as though the phone was more important than living in his car (as he told me).

Later, a co-worker offered him the use of his trailer to live.

So it's likely that some of the money that I have given him during the Christmas season was not used as he portrayed but for the purchase of a replacement phone. I felt deceived.

This employee must have felt shame because when I would check in or out of the gym, he would turn his back and pretend not to see me. This employee was more interested in getting free stuff (and not interested really in any of the career materials and options that I printed for him). Is there any doubt that this employee really wanted me kicked out of the gym so he wouldn'thave to face me? My guess is the supervisor bought some phantom charge hook, line and sinker. I felt embarrassment at being told to leave the gym in front of others over a bogus charge and no chance to ask questions. I felt damage to my reputation.

Under the Planet Fitness Code of Ethics section titled "Company Property and Facilities" the employee should not have used the check-in desk for any person solicitations (financial distress for money help).

Under Treatment of Others, the employee should not have taken advantage of myself through "manipulation".

Under Gifts and Entertainment, I firmly believe that the employee failed to report all gifts (over $50) resulting in 3 Code violations.

If the supervisor knew some or all of the relevant details, the supervisor should have at least given a warning to the employee and made me aware to disassociate myself. Over the period of my membership I have never received a warnings of any kind. That's what makes this so shocking.