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[cdh3021]

Jurisdiction/Place:

A former co-woker came into my offices today. She was speaking to a current co-worker and as I walked by remarked to her that "I still want to kill that bastard", referring to me. I personally heard her say this and I confirmed that she said it and was referring to me by asking my current co-worker if I had heard correctly. The former co-worker and myself have never gotten along but I've never made threats toward her and I didn't say anything to her prior to her comments or after.

Does this constitute a verbal threat and is there anything I can do about it?

Thank you

Chris

[sanctuary]

Is it a verbal threat? Yes. Do you have a legal case? That depends on how serious do you think the former co-worker is. Do you feel she is capable of killing, or was she blowing off steam? Have you ever known her to display violent tendencies? If the answers are "no", then making a police report is probably not necessary.

I'm not an attorney and have no formal education in Law. I am a former Supervisor with 17 years experience in managing a staff of 16 employees.

What I will suggest is for you to bring this to the attention of your Department Supervisor and/or Human Resources Manager. Your employer needs to know what's going on, especially in case the situation is repeated or escalates. Definitely do not approach the former or current co-worker with your ire. An effective HR Manager is skilled in dealing with Employer/Emplyee relations, it is their job. Having the former co-worker visiting a current co-worker is usually not a problem. However, this former co-worker, by her comment directed toward you, represents creating a hostile work environment. HR may determine it would be better for the work environment to ensure the current and former co-workers hold their conversations outside the company.

Good luck.