'When a company closes, there's nothing much we can do': About 100 True Fitness & True Yoga ex-staff gather at liquidators' meeting at HQ

Former employees of True Fitness and True Yoga expressed shock and disappointment at a staff meeting on Sep. 11 following the announcement that the company has ceased operations across their outlets.

Around 10pm on Sep. 10, staff received an email from the human resources (HR) department informing them that True Fitness and True Yoga had been placed into provisional liquidation and all outlets would be closed immediately.

They were asked to report to the company's headquarters at 8 Claymore Hill the next afternoon where the provisional liquidators would explain the next steps.

Mothership estimated around 100 people turned up at the meeting, including fitness instructors, sales, and other staff.

Some appeared resigned to the news. "When a company closes, there's nothing much we can do," one said.

However, many were still processing the sudden loss of their jobs.

"Everyone's shocked trying to absorb whatever happened," Arivinthan Rajanthran, a 33-year-old project executive, told Mothership.

He recalled that prior to the announcement, he might have heard about one or two outlets closing, but did not expect a company liquidation.

No promises for compensation

According to former employees at the meeting, the liquidators said they would try to recover as much funds as they can to pay the staff's salaries and refund members who bought packages.

Following the sudden closure, members of the fitness and yoga club reported losses of more than S$63,000 in unutilised memberships, packages, and services as of Sep. 11, according to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE).

As for the staff, Arivinthan said he believes he is owed salary for the 10 days he has worked so far in September, and possibly a salary in lieu of notice.

He has yet to receive any compensation or promise of one, he added. A few others shared the same.

Another former employee of True Yoga shared with Mothership the employment termination notice he received, dated Sep. 11.

It states that his employment was terminated with immediate effect.

It also advised him to submit any claims against the company, including arrears of salary, unutilised leave and notice pay online.

"On behalf of the company, we thank you for your service and wish you the best for your future endeavours," the letter read.

Disappointed

Adrian Pratab, 43, had a lot of questions he wanted to ask the HR department.

But no one from HR was apparently there, leaving him disappointed.

"There was no representative from our side of the company," he said. "It was just the side of the liquidation company."

Formerly the team leader at True Fitness' Millennia Walk outlet, he had been with the company since 2016.

"Unfortunately, the way they informed us is not very nice. Very last minute," he went on.

"We were a bit disappointed that actually they were about to close, but they didn't tell us upfront. I would have made plans earlier, and would have done things in a much better way."

He described the management's handling of the situation as "very unprofessional" and "very incompetent".

According to him, during a management meeting about a month ago, his manager asked the company directors whether there were any plans to close.

The directors allegedly replied no.

'Everything is going to be affected'

Pratab, who is Malaysian, said that his work pass in Singapore will be deactivated and made invalid soon.

Fortunately, his wife is a permanent resident (PR) here, so he believes he has the chance to get a long-term visit pass in the meantime to stay with his family.

Arivinthan was upset about the news as he believes that his life and lifestyle will have to change.

"Everything is going to be affected... So [I'm] just looking to see what's options out there to carry on working," he said.

Concerned for clients

Mani Jr., a 28-year-old former instructor at True Fitness' Funan outlet, expressed concern for "all other 200 trainers" who have been left jobless.

But to him, his greater concern was for his clients, the members at the club.

"When I woke up in the morning today, I woke up to about 50 texts [from] my clients," he shared. "They're asking, 'What happened? Are you okay?'"

He pointed out how the members trusted the trainers and the company to buy fitness sessions, and that some of them cost "really a lot".

The staff have been left to answer the clients' questions about refunds, but no one at the management has told them any information either, Mani said.

When he asked the liquidators about compensating the members, he understood from their response that the members will be "the last priority".

"There's not really a 100 per cent evidence that they might be getting it. It's more likely they would not get it," he added.

"I really feel sorry for my clients. I feel sorry for my colleagues that are jobless as well."