About World Class

The World Class story

World Class was founded in July 1985, which makes the company over 40 years old. It was founded by Björn Kr. Leifsson and his family.

The business started in small premises at Skeifan 3c. Three years later it moved to Skeifan 19, almost doubling its floor space. In 1995 the company moved into its own building in Fellsmúli, where the facility had grown to 1,760 m², and the headquarters stayed there until 2004, when they moved to Laugar at Sundlaugavegur 30a.

• Service
• Teamwork
• Knowledge

A flagship location in Akureyri

In 1998 a building on Strandgata was bought from the women's division of the Akureyri Search and Rescue Association, and a flagship location opened there; it was later sold in 2006. In 2000 a flagship location opened at Austurstræti 16, and in 2001 the fourth location opened in Spöngin in Grafarvogur. In 2004 the Austurstræti location closed and a new one opened in the Reykjavík Energy building at Bæjarháls.

World Class grows

In December 2007 and January 2008, four outstanding World Class locations opened in Hafnarfjörður, Mosfellsbær, Seltjarnarnes and Turninn in Kópavogur. In autumn 2010 two locations opened, at Ögurhvarf in Kópavogur and in the old Morgunblaðið building by Kringlan, and at the turn of the year the Spöngin location moved to Egilshöll. In 2012 a location opened in the Reykjavík University building.

On 2 January 2016 World Class opened in Selfoss, Árbæjarþrek followed on 1 July, and in October the same year World Class in Turninn in Kópavogur moved to a flagship location in Smáralind. World Class Breiðholt also opened in an outstanding new building next to Breiðholtslaug. In January 2018 World Class bought the Átak locations in Akureyri, on Strandgata and Skólastígur. A year later, on 26 January 2019, an outstanding 2,400 m² location opened at Tjarnarvellir 7.

On 1 August 2020 World Class opened a location in the same building as the Hella swimming pool, and in autumn 2020 a flagship location opened in Vatnsmýri. In April 2021 yet another flagship location opened inside Kringlan, and the location in the old Morgunblaðið building was given over entirely to WorldFit. That brought the number of locations to 18, with access to 8 swimming pools: Laugardalslaug, the Seltjarnarnes pool, Breiðholtslaug, Árbæjarlaug, Lágafellslaug, the Akureyri pool, the Hella pool and Sundhöll Selfoss. Today there are 20 locations and 10 pools.

OUR GOALS

• Lead the way in running and developing fitness centres
• Provide outstanding, professional service
• Have skilled, ambitious staff
• Run a profitable business
• Strengthen our ties with the health and education systems

Equal pay policy

Laugar ehf. has implemented an equal pay system in accordance with ÍST 85:2012 under Article 7 of Act No. 150/2020 on equal pay certification, covering all staff, with this equal pay policy as its basis. The purpose of the equal pay system is to ensure equality and equal status of genders within Laugar ehf., with the aim of making full use of staff's skills, strengths and knowledge without gender-based discrimination.

This equality plan reminds management and all staff of the importance of everyone being equal and of valuing the wealth that lies in individuals' education, experience and skills, regardless of gender.

The World Class equal pay policy is to follow collective agreements.

It is important to follow the principle that everyone enjoys the same opportunities:

• pay is set in the same way for the same, comparable or equally valuable work
• staff have the same opportunities for education/continuing education/lifelong learning/courses
• people of all genders are welcome to apply for jobs with us
• we find ways to balance family and working life
• we do not tolerate violence; this includes gender-based/sexual violence/harassment

The equal pay system is continuously improved and monitored. Any deviations are addressed.

The equal pay system sets out equal pay targets, which are reviewed and revised according to the relevant procedures.

The equal pay system is documented on the World Class intranet.

The equal pay policy is available to all staff on the World Class intranet.

The equal pay policy is available to the public on the World Class website.

Have a suggestion? Drop us a line at worldclass@worldclass.is

Staff

STAFF

The World Class team spans all ages, with broad expertise and diverse backgrounds. Our staff aim to deliver great service wherever and whenever. Safety comes first in our facilities and teaching. Instructors and trainers keep up with the latest trends in health and fitness, and their diverse backgrounds give everyone the chance to find training that suits them. The World Class values, knowledge, service and teamwork, reflect the people who work at all 20 of our locations.

Aðalbjörg Guðjónsdóttir Accounting / Payroll officer

Árný Helga Þórsdóttir Memberships and ÍTR leisure cards

Anna Bergmann Marketing manager

Ásthildur Bára Jensdóttir Head of business development

Birgitta Líf Björnsdóttir Managing director, development and marketing

Björn Leifsson CEO

Hafdís Jónsdóttir Managing director, Laugar Spa

Heiðrún Guðmundsdóttir Digital marketer

Kim Viojen Operations manager, Laugar Cafe / Group bookings

Kjartan Oddason Head of digital technology and design

Kristín Helga Waage Knútsdóttir Bookkeeper

Linda Björk Hölludóttir Location manager, Smáralind and Ögurhvarf

Sigurður Júlíus Leifsson Property operations manager

Sylvía Arnfjörð Head of HR

Procedure for staff reporting breaches of law or other misconduct

Employees of Laugar ehf. may, in good faith, disclose information or share documents about breaches of law or other misconduct in the company's operations with a party within the company who can help put an end to or respond to the unlawful or improper conduct, or with the police or other relevant public supervisory bodies, for example the Althingi Ombudsman, the National Audit Office and the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health.

Reports can be made to the employee's line manager or the company's shop stewards. Shop stewards and/or managers review the matter and take appropriate action. The recipient of the information or documents is obliged to help put an end to the unlawful or improper conduct or respond to it in another way. Within a month of the report, the recipient must tell the employee whether the information has led to any action and, if so, what action.

The recipient of the information or documents must keep confidential any personal information they receive about the person who shared it, unless that person gives explicit consent for confidentiality to be lifted. An employee who has shared information or documents without it leading to an adequate response within the company may, in good faith, share that information or those documents with outside parties, including the media, provided the employee has legitimate reason to believe the conduct may be punishable by imprisonment.

Partners

Life Fitness: World Class is the agent for Life Fitness in Iceland. For more information contact Björn Leifsson on 553 0000 or bjorn@worldclass.is

Hammer Strength: World Class is the agent for Hammer Strength in Iceland. For more information contact Björn Leifsson on 553 0000 or bjorn@worldclass.is