What if one of our employees quits and threatens us? Managing risk and taking care of your church

It's challenging for any church when staff members depart, but when an employee who is leaving threatens or voices worries, things get even more confusing and hazardous. Church leaders need to deal with these kinds of problems in a professional, legal, and planned way to maintain the ministry safe and the environment healthy.

This guide explains how churches can deal with personnel leaving under threat, know the legal repercussions, retain records, and respond correctly to lower risk. We will also talk about how Church Law and Strategy can help churches navigate through these hard times.

Figuring Out What's Going On

When a church worker quits and makes threats, either directly or indirectly, church leaders have to deal with a multitude of issues:

• Determining how serious and real the threat is
• Keeping church property, staff, and volunteers safe
• Following the law while simultaneously respecting the rights of workers
• Keeping an eye on communication both inside and outside the business

If leaders know how things function, they can respond calmly and effectively.

What Different Types of Threats Are and What They Do

Saying you're upset or delivering a message that conveys danger or retaliation are both threats. Some common groups are:

• Threats of violence against people or things
• Threats of lawsuits or lies
• Threats to make private or dangerous information public
• Cyberbullying or attacks on social media

Each type needs a different reaction that achieves a balance between caution and legal strategy.

Things to Think About in Terms of the Law

To protect themselves, churches must obey the law and due process:

• Write down threats in full and as soon as possible.
• Before taking disciplinary or security action, talk to a lawyer.
• Know the rules about how employees can chat to each other about their privacy.
• If threats are serious and urgent, call the police.

Churches can avoid making things worse or breaking employees' rights by seeking the necessary legal assistance.

The Greatest Strategies to Keep Track of Things and Answer

• Put everything down
• Write down everything that was said, done, and spoken about.
• Be clear and professional when you talk to each other.
• Keep the lines of communication open and calm with the staff member who is departing as needed.

How to Stay Safe

If threats could mean danger, check and put security measures in place.

Help for Staff Who Are Still There

Give staff and volunteers advice and support.

How to Avoid and Deal with Risks in the Future

Set standards for quitting, reporting threats, and settling arguments. Show leaders how to handle hard breakups.

How Church Law and Strategy Help Churches

Church Law and Strategy provide good legal counsel and helpful tips, like:

• Going over and changing the rules for resignations and exits
• Legal advice on how to handle harmful actions
• Advice on security and risk assessments
• How to stay out of trouble and follow the law as a church leader

We help churches keep their people and ministries safe with care and trust.

A Lot of People Ask These Questions

• What should we do straight away if an employee says they will hurt someone? Call the police right away if the danger seems real and likely to happen soon.
• Can we stop a staff member who has quit from going on church property? Yes, especially if there is a problem with safety. Let security know that you changed the access codes.
• How do we let the church know about a resignation that could be bad? When it's right, keep things private and open. Safety and comfort should be your main goals.

To Sum Up

When staff members quit and threaten churches, they have enormous challenges. Churches may deal with these situations successfully while still safeguarding their mission and community by knowing the law, maintaining solid records, talking things out, and receiving help from professionals.

This blog post is solely meant to give you information and not legal advice. Talk to a lawyer if you need help with something that is unique to your church or group.

Links Inside

• Learn more about Church HR and how to follow the law when hiring.
• Learn about the laws that protect people who volunteer.
• Look at the Church Legal Audit and Compliance Report.

Links to Other Websites

• You may find OSHA's website on violence at work at https://www.osha.gov/workplace-violence.
• Go to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) website at https://www.eeoc.gov.
• You can find the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh.