Two straight white men formerly employed by the 24 Hour Fitness chain have filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming they were subjected to a hostile work environment that included homophobic, racist, and sexist comments from two other staff members, one of whom was their immediate supervisor.

According to the suit, filed Wednesday, March 26 in U.S. District Court, Northern District of California against 24 Hour Fitness USA Inc., when Paul Drobot and Reginald Allison, both now 44, objected to the conduct, they were subjected to retaliation, including demotions and pay cuts, which resulted in "enormous financial hardship and emotional distress." Neither of the men works for the company any longer, and the suit seeks relief for damages.

Drobot and Allison had both worked in facilities throughout the Bay Area, including San Francisco, and both had once served as district managers.

One example in the suit tells of an alleged 2006 incident in which Mark Polli, who was then regional director of sales for Northern California, was discussing a candidate for a sales manager trainee position that he thought was gay.

The complaint says that Polli stated, "There is no way we are going to hire this guy in that position ... he's light in the loafers. Our counselors will eat him alive with his little chin strap beard and faggy colored contacts." Ultimately, Polli didn't hire the candidate because he thought he was gay, according to the suit.

In another example, when a black club manager was transferred to Drobot's district, Polli told Drobot to watch out because the new manager would "surround himself with people just like him" and that "the next thing you know you'll have a bunch of brothers in the club just like him," according to the complaint.

Polli could not be reached for comment.

Drobot, who lives in San Mateo, told the Bay Area Reporter, "We truly want to change the culture of this company ... We want to get the word out so people know what kind of company they're working with when they walk into 24 Hour Fitness."

The company denied the charges.

"24 Hour Fitness is an equal employment opportunity employer," the company said in a statement. "We are deeply committed to providing a work environment that is free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. We firmly deny the charges made in this case and we expect to prevail when all the facts are heard."

Allison, who lives in Dublin, said part of his job at 24 Hour Fitness had been to let new hires know that if they saw or heard any type of racist, homophobic, or sexist comments, they were supposed to address the situation and report it immediately, or they could be held liable.

He said he and Drobot themselves followed procedures in their alleged situation "to a T."

"It's unbelievable that this type of behavior goes on in this day and age," said Allison.