When an employee or contractor is terminated—especially under ethical concerns—it can feel like you're defusing a bomb with a blindfold on. The emotional stress, potential data breaches, client risk, and team disruption are a perfect storm that can cripple your operations overnight.
This article is a comprehensive, real-world guide for business owners facing that nightmare—and how to turn it into a recovery plan and prevention strategy.
Lock Down First, Ask Questions Later
When trust is breached, security becomes the top priority—not diplomacy.
Immediate Actions
- Change ALL passwords for internal systems, especially GHL (GoHighLevel) admin access.
- Force logout of all users.
- Revoke access from anyone not currently under contract or whose integrity is in question.
- Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) across the board.
- Replace shared login credentials with personal logins to identify accountability.
Tools that help
- Password managers (1Password, LastPass)
- Security session managers
- GHL Audit Log: Go to *Agency Settings > Audit Logs*, then filter for "Login Attempt", "Team Member Added", etc.
Address the Human Element
Most problems don't start with software—they start with relationships.
Best Practices
- Host one-on-one meetings with current staff. Address your concerns transparently.
- Reinforce or reissue contracts that include:
- No-solicitation clauses
- Confidentiality
- Clear terms around account access and client communications
- Consider requiring signatures for an updated IT Security & Ethics Policy.
- Be honest about what happened and where the lines are drawn going forward.
Legal & Ethical Oversight
This is not just an operations problem—it's also a legal and data privacy issue.
Recommended Actions
- Consult a business attorney to:
- Draft or revise NDAs, employment contracts, and exit clauses
- Issue cease-and-desist letters if needed
- Keep logs, screenshots, email timestamps, and chat histories of any suspicious activity.
- Understand your obligations under privacy laws (like GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA depending on your industry and region).
Rebuild the Right Way
It's tempting to start fresh—but don't just burn it down. Rebuild smarter.
Access Strategy
- Implement role-based access: give employees access to only the tools and data they absolutely need.
- Use tags or tracking fields to monitor lead origins and user activity.
- Implement a lead honeypot system: add fake leads to accounts and monitor how they are used to sniff out bad actors.
Pro Tip: Start referring to team members by role and trust level in systems (e.g. "Maya – Trusted SDR", "Logan – New Hire – Restricted").
Prevention is Your Best Friend
Don't wait for disaster to strike—build your defense in advance.
Prevention Checklist
- Exit SOP for all contractors and employees
- Regular audits of platform access and log activity
- Use monitoring tools (Time Doctor, Hubstaff) for accountability
- Avoid login sharing by managing access through tools like 1Password
- Regularly back up customer and lead data in secure, access-controlled environments
- Vet hires through agencies or partnerships that offer accountability
Why Fawkes Digital Marketing Is Your Strategic Partner
We've been doing this for over two decades—long before "digital marketing" was a buzzword. Our clients know us not only as brand builders, but as business partners. We've helped agencies and companies:
- Set up internal ops from scratch
- Recover from ethical and legal crises
- Build SOPs that protect their future
- Hire, fire, and rebuild teams with resilience
Fawkes Digital Marketing is more than a marketing agency—we're a seasoned business consultancy.
If you're facing a personnel crisis, data breach, or operational risk — we're the first call you should make.
Contact us today to book a free, no obligation, and confidential consultation.