A serious administrative blunder has left staff at one of the UK's leading cancer research centres unexpectedly locked out of their local gym, after a corporate membership paid for by Google was abruptly terminated.
The Institute of Cancer Research's account with PureGym in Glasgow was suddenly cut off due to a major billing error. The membership, a generous perk funded by the tech giant Google, was intended to support the wellbeing of the institute's dedicated staff.
The shocking lockout meant that employees who had relied on the facility for stress relief and physical health were suddenly denied access, with their fobs deactivated without warning.
A spokesperson for The Institute of Cancer Research confirmed the incident, stating: "We can confirm that our corporate membership at PureGym was terminated due to an error with our billing, which was managed by a third party."
While the issue has now been resolved and access reinstated, the incident highlights the fragility of corporate partnerships and the real-world impact of administrative mistakes. The gym membership is considered a vital benefit for staff engaged in demanding and often emotionally taxing cancer research work.
PureGym and Google have been contacted for comment regarding the billing system failure that led to the unexpected termination of this valued corporate benefit.
