Posted on Jun 10, 2015
How to handle veterans who play the PTSD card for personal gain, causing Gold’s Gym to think twice before they hire another veteran?
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I have a very good friend who was just fired from Gold’s Gym because a military veteran pulled his PTSD card over being told to “Fuck off” because he was stealing clients. Instead of letting this be dealt with in-house, this veteran goes to Corporate Gold’s Gym and demands that my friend be fired or he will sue Gold’s. Not only is this very wrong but this makes all veterans with PTSD look bad and I’m sure Gold’s Gym will think twice before they hire another veteran if all they do is cause unnecessary problems. If this had been a valid PTSD situation, then i would be all for it but this veteran just had a personal issue with my friend and didn’t have the balls to handle it like a man. Is there any way to deal with a person like this and make sure that there is some sort of consequence for pulling the PTSD card like that? He is making all veterans look bad, we are to be the more professional ones!!
Employment
PTSD
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 13
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Unfortunately, something like this is just limited to this one little case. It seems that many veterans (PTSD or not) feel they're entitled to more post service. While the benefits we receive are great (free education, how can you beat that?), there have been instances where veterans push for more and look foolish in the process.
On a personal note, the only thing I've ever expected from the civilian world is for my co-workers to put in a solid day's work. Too many times I've been frustrated with the lethargic work attitude and as a result, puts more pressure on everyone else to pick up the slack.
On a personal note, the only thing I've ever expected from the civilian world is for my co-workers to put in a solid day's work. Too many times I've been frustrated with the lethargic work attitude and as a result, puts more pressure on everyone else to pick up the slack.
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SPC Dennis Sentelle
Just what is the meaning of push for more. You were not around when we returned from Vietnam 1965-1966 and received the rude welcome homes from our fellow country men and women. never ask for anything from anyone. I suffer from PTSD 70% disability and I deal with my demons every night during my nightmares I have never used the so called PTSD card as you refer to it . I did ask for help when I returned home from Vietnam but received none so I fought this demon myself for almost fifty years. 2013 I trusted the Va. medical services to give me some help. My issue before with the military behind me I just happed to get a very good doctor who has given me back my life after two years of treatments. Not all veterans use these cards, so please don't place all of us in the same fish bowl.
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SSgt Charles Edwards
I wasn't saying all veterans abuse their status for personal gain. What I was referring to is how there have been cases where vets have tried to make a bigger deal of their status. You are right, I wasn't around during the Vietnam War, but I have done my research. You guys went through hell only to come back home to a fresher one. That wasn't right. I want to apologize as I should have been more specific about the veterans I was referring to, because the cases I've read about have revolved primarily around those who have been to Iraq and Afghanistan. Once again, I'm not putting everyone in that category, but as the saying goes: the actions of the few can define the majority.
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SPC Dennis Sentelle
Thank you SSgt Edwards for your reply. This article just hit me a little close to home. I am sure there are a few that do play this card, but most Vietnam vets would rather that no one know of this terrible nightmare that they have been left with.
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I hope that companies and other employers will look at veterans as individuals and not as a group. It is not a good practice to judge a group of people because of a few bad apples. That is no different than claiming that most or all Muslims are terrorist because there are many Muslims in GITMO who are suspected of terrorism.
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MSgt Alfred Lagrimas
Right on. The word individual means that. Unfortunately it's like "atta boyz", you only as good as the last one. But one bad time, one bad egg,or one bad meal is all they remember. Hey L T, hope your friend got a job
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This doesn't sound right. Let me understand LT, the vet was a gym member who was told to "FO" for stealing clients by the gym employee, the member then went to corporate to play the PTSD card? Just want to make sure I have it straight.
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1LT Jessie Koyle
The vet was a gym employee in sales with my friend. My friend told him to FO when he took clients that were supposed to be his based on the rules that they have at Golds. the vet didn’t like the way the Golds owner handled it and sent the “felt threatened and i have PTSD” complaint to Corporate where they demanded that Golds fire my friend because they are scared of getting sued by this vet.
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MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
Thanks 1LT Jessie Koyle for explaining that. Yes totally handled piss-poorly. We earn rights as vets but with those rights comes responsibility. Guys like this give everyone a bad wrap especially those with PTSD. Your friend hopefully can get a good lawyer because that sounds like Gold's made a bad choice in both respects.
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That sounds less like PTSD and more like bovine stool coupled with unprofessional behavior then pulling a PTSD card to cover for it. This can happen when some want to use something like PTSD to justify bad behavior. Management should manage the behavior and worry less about the cause.
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1LT Jessie Koyle
Management tried to handle it professionally but the vet felt like they didn’t do enough so he went to corporate. my friend who got fired doesn’t even make me feel threatened, let alone a marine with 3 tours.
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Cpl Jeff N.
PTSD or not, you have no right to be unprofessional and an a-hole in the work place. I would let him know he was out of line and a real a-hole for hiding behind PTSD for his unprofessional behavior and that he is doing harm to other veterans by acting the way he is. Don't be afraid to hurt his feelings, some folks just need the reality check.
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I think we all need to be more curious and kind to each other you do not know what they have been through and yes he could of handled it better
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There are always three sides to a story like this, but in general I would doubt that your friend was fired because someone with PTSD complained. They would need better justification then that. Also, if this person was a disabled veteran, PTSD alone may not get you there, then they have some protected rights, but not the power to get someone fired. So this could be a rare case of knowing the right person, but since they contacted corporate I would look into the reason that corporate put on the termination reason and dig into that.
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Just to play Devil's advocate here. Maybe the vet felt he had to pull the PTSD card not only because your friend told him to fuck off but because the local Gold's Gym owner didn't handle it in accordance with his/hers own policies, and felt like they (the vet) had to do something drastic to get the situation resolved.
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PO1 John Miller
Not that I'm condoning the vet's behavior. They could just have easily made the same complaint to corporate without the PTSD card.
Meanwhile, since I don't know the full story I can't say if your friend should have lost their job. They definitely should have been reprimanded but I don't know about being fired.
Meanwhile, since I don't know the full story I can't say if your friend should have lost their job. They definitely should have been reprimanded but I don't know about being fired.
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Best thing I can say is that Karma is a "B". This kind of crap will inevitably backfire on him.
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