Terrible training ideas: Hire a masked gunman
September 30, 2009 by Sam NarisiPosted in: In This Week's E-Newsletter, Latest News & Views, Law
When it comes to training employees, you want to keep things interesting. But not this interesting.
Pharmacist’s assistant Babette Perry claims she was left with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder after an unconventional safety exercise orchestrated by her the employer.
And by “unconventional,” we mean “stupid.”
As part of a “safety drill,” the hospital had another employee to go to Perry’s office on Christmas Eve. The six-foot-tall man told her the company’s HR director was being held hostage and claimed he had cut the office’s phone lines. The “gunman” demanded Oxycotin in exchange for the release of the HR manager.
Even after it was revealed the threat was part of an elaborate drill, Perry says she began hyperventilating. She was so unnerved she couldn’t work for a week.
She’s now suing the hospital for the costs of her pyschological treatment, as well as punitive damages.

October 2nd, 2009 at 8:04 am
What a ridiculous stunt! I’m curious, did Babette respond during the ‘hold up’ the way they expected her to given no training was provided? I assume she no longer works there. Her choice or theirs? Is she being compensated?
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:22 am
Absolutely the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard. What if this woman had actually had a heart attack or stroke due to the stress of being put in this situation? I hope the person responsible for this “training session” has been fired.
I would be very interested in a follow up article about the outcome of her court case.