The issue of threats in the workplace is a serious matter for managers and for those employees who are subjected to the fear and intimidation that can accompany a threat. Managers have a duty to respond quickly and decisively. But when is a threat really a threat, and what action is appropriate? In the federal workplace, managers and human resources professionals use a five-part formula to determine how serious the threat is. This formula is often referred to as the Metz factors, a name taken from the court case that decided when a threat is a threat. The Metz factors…