So, do YOU wear boots to the gym?
Lauren8239
Posts: 1,039 Member
in Chit-Chat
Gym ordered to pay $2,000 for discrimination against boot-wearing customer
By Neal Hall, Postmedia News May 23, 2012
VANCOUVER — A British Columbia gym has been ordered by the province's Human Rights Tribunal to pay $2,000 to a customer who was told he couldn't wear boots while exercising because it violated the gym's dress code.
The customer, Keith Wollenberg, wanted to wear hiking boots during one exercise routine at Platinum Athletic Club in Surrey because of a tendon disability.
He had worn hiking boots at other gyms and was never questioned about it, Wollenberg said. But when he asked permission at the Platinum Athletic Club, the gym refused to accommodate him.
So he decided to perform his lunge exercises at another gym and filed a complaint of discrimination against a physical disability.
Wollenberg testified after he first raised his complaint against the gym, he was threatened with having his membership "reviewed," which didn't make him want to attend the gym as often.
No one from the gym attended the tribunal hearing earlier this month, so Wollenberg's complaint was accepted as justified by the tribunal.
But during the past four years, Wollenberg said, he has experienced increasing discomfort when he wears normal gym shoes to perform lunges because of an arthritic condition.
His physiotherapist recommended Wollenberg wear hiking boots for this exercise so his feet would remain more rigid, thereby alleviating the pain.
He has been doing this since 2009, when he suffered a judo injury.
Wollenberg would change into the boots to perform lunges at other gyms, then change back to wearing his athletic shoes for other exercises.
Bernd Walter, chair of the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, ordered the gym to cease contravening the human rights code.
He ordered the gym to pay Wollenberg $400 to compensate him for his reduced use of the gym, $500 for lost wages to pursue his complaint, $16 for parking to attend hearings, plus $1,000 for injury to his dignity, feelings and self-respect.
Vancouver Sun
By Neal Hall, Postmedia News May 23, 2012
VANCOUVER — A British Columbia gym has been ordered by the province's Human Rights Tribunal to pay $2,000 to a customer who was told he couldn't wear boots while exercising because it violated the gym's dress code.
The customer, Keith Wollenberg, wanted to wear hiking boots during one exercise routine at Platinum Athletic Club in Surrey because of a tendon disability.
He had worn hiking boots at other gyms and was never questioned about it, Wollenberg said. But when he asked permission at the Platinum Athletic Club, the gym refused to accommodate him.
So he decided to perform his lunge exercises at another gym and filed a complaint of discrimination against a physical disability.
Wollenberg testified after he first raised his complaint against the gym, he was threatened with having his membership "reviewed," which didn't make him want to attend the gym as often.
No one from the gym attended the tribunal hearing earlier this month, so Wollenberg's complaint was accepted as justified by the tribunal.
But during the past four years, Wollenberg said, he has experienced increasing discomfort when he wears normal gym shoes to perform lunges because of an arthritic condition.
His physiotherapist recommended Wollenberg wear hiking boots for this exercise so his feet would remain more rigid, thereby alleviating the pain.
He has been doing this since 2009, when he suffered a judo injury.
Wollenberg would change into the boots to perform lunges at other gyms, then change back to wearing his athletic shoes for other exercises.
Bernd Walter, chair of the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, ordered the gym to cease contravening the human rights code.
He ordered the gym to pay Wollenberg $400 to compensate him for his reduced use of the gym, $500 for lost wages to pursue his complaint, $16 for parking to attend hearings, plus $1,000 for injury to his dignity, feelings and self-respect.
Vancouver Sun
0
Replies
-
Kind of silly. Doing lunges I assume he would be in the free weight area so footwear can't really damage anything.0
-
he got paid for his feelings?
I'm at a loss0 -
:yawn:0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions