NY Equinox Trainers Secure $12M Settlement in Overtime Pay Lawsuit

When fitness professionals work long hours helping others reach their goals, they deserve to be fully and fairly compensated for every minute on the job—including the time spent prepping workouts, following up with clients, and keeping the gym floor in order. That principle was at the heart of a recently finalized class action settlement between Equinox and thousands of its New York-based personal trainers. In a major victory for workers’ rights, a federal court approved a $12 million settlement resolving claims that the luxury gym chain systematically failed to pay overtime.

Thanks to the hard work of our attorneys at Valli Kane & Vagnini and the efforts from the lawyers listed below, this case sets a strong precedent for wage and hour protections for those in the fitness industry

Key Takeaways from the Case

• Final Approval Granted
  A New York federal judge has approved a $12 million settlement between Equinox and its personal trainers, ending a years-long legal battle over unpaid overtime wages.
• Who’s Included in the Settlement
  The class includes all personal trainers who worked for Equinox in New York between March 25, 2014, and July 31, 2024.
• What the Trainers Alleged
  • Trainers were routinely underpaid, receiving a flat hourly rate without overtime premiums.
  • Trainers also completed off-the-clock tasks like program planning, reorganizing gym equipment, and client outreach, which the lawsuit argued should count as paid overtime.
• Why This Was a Win for the Trainers
  • The total $12 million fund covers 102% of estimated backpay, essentially making the class whole.
  • The judge called the settlement “fair, reasonable, and adequate,” recognizing the trainers’ claims as legitimate and the resolution as full compensation for the hours worked.
  • The result confirms that overtime and prep work in the fitness industry must be properly compensated under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• Case Background
  • The legal effort began in 2020, when trainer Yekaterina Skidanenko filed suit. Trainer Monique Katz filed a similar case later that year.
  • In 2022, both trainers combined their efforts as co-lead plaintiffs in this consolidated case.
• Next Steps
  • The settlement will take effect on July 31, 2025, unless an appeal is filed.
  • All eligible class members will receive a portion of the remaining funds, after legal fees and service awards to Katz and Skidanenko.

Attorneys Who Fought for the Trainers

• James Vagnini and Alexander M. White – Valli Kane & Vagnini LLP
• D. Maimon Kirschenbaum and Denise A. Schulman – Joseph & Kirschenbaum LLP
• Jacob Aronauer – Law Office of Jacob Aronauer
• Mariya Gonor and Kimberley Brunner – Norris McLaughlin PA

   

Case Reference: Katz et al. v. Equinox Holdings Inc., case number 1:20-cv-09856, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.