In May, June Alberts took the mandatory Heimlich Maneuver training at Wixom, Michigan’s Whitman Structural. Now she’s out of a job.
According to Whitman HR spokesperson Sara Spilkins, Alberts was released Tuesday following multiple performances of the maneuver on her co-workers. The problem: None of these workers were choking.
On 12 occasions, including ten in the lunchroom, Alberts suddenly bear-hugged unsuspecting employees from behind, tipping over tables and employees in the process.
“We tried to counsel her,” explained Spilkins. “But the next day she’d be right back at it – putting her fist under somebody’s ribs and yanking up.” The issue was affecting employee morale, says Spilkins.
“Enough was enough,” says one Whitman employee who asks not to be identified. “For the past few weeks I’ve been eating my lunch in the mens room!”
Reached at her home, Alberts, 66, says she does not understand her dismissal.
“The instructor said if it even looks like a person’s in distress, it’s better to be safe than sorry!” she said, adding that she doesn’t regret her actions.
Even so, she insists that she’s done with the Heimlich Maneuver. “From now on,” she said, “I’m sticking to CPR.”
