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Staff facing layoff include five pregnant women, people with young families who had just bought homes and older workers unlikely to find other work, said the employee, who asked not to be identified.

The atmosphere among staff is “anxious and uneasy,” the staffer said. “Not knowing what’s next . . . . But knowing once we’re no longer useful to the company, and we have served their purpose, we’re gone.”

The layoffs come about a month after the company moved into the new 60,000-square-foot headquarters on Proudfoot Lane.

About 300 staff moved into the building built to accommodate 500.

GoodLife Fitness has told employees it is installing a new management software system in its clubs next spring that will make some jobs redundant.

Jane Riddell, the company’s chief operating officer, said the company is working to transfer some affected employees to other jobs, including new “senior motivator” posts at the clubs.

“Our hope is that we can retain many of these great employees in this role, or in one of the hundreds of other available positions.”

Patchell-Evans said the chain plans to expand to 1,000 clubs while fending off competition from U.S. chains, such as Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness, entering the Canadian market.

GoodLife also has to contend with a potential class-action suit.

The suit, filed by Toronto law firm Goldblatt Partners, seeks $60 million in compensation for current and former GoodLife employees, especially personal trainers, who have worked at Ontario clubs since October 2014.