Authority & Conduct Terms
Policy
Authority & Conduct Terms
Reference-only staff policy covering role definitions, authority limits, expectations, and operational safeguards for OakGlow.
Terms
- Senior Administrator
- The highest-ranking staff position within OakGlow. The Senior Administrator has final authority over all organizational decisions and may overrule any decision made by other staff members when justified.
- Administrator
- A staff member primarily responsible for organizational development and improvement. Administrators oversee projects deemed necessary by the staff team and may overrule decisions made by Moderators and Assistants when justified.
- Moderator
- A staff member primarily responsible for resolving disputes, enforcing rules, and maintaining community stability. Moderators may overrule decisions made by Assistants when justified.
- Assistant
- A staff member responsible for supporting community management, maintenance, and development. Assistants have more limited command access compared to Moderators.
- Community Member
- Any individual who accesses or participates in OakGlow platforms or services, including Minecraft, Discord, the website, or other official spaces. This includes both staff and non-staff users.
- User
- Any person who accesses or utilizes an OakGlow platform or service. This includes staff members and non-staff users.
Authority
Staff members are granted varying levels of authority, command access, and system permissions within OakGlow. This includes in-game commands as well as access to sensitive tools and information such as IP addresses, billing records (if applicable), Discord communications, and administrative systems.
Staff may exercise their authority only as necessary to enforce OakGlow rules, maintain order, protect community members, safeguard infrastructure, and uphold the integrity of the network. This applies across all official OakGlow platforms, including Minecraft, Discord, the website, social media, and any setting where a staff member is representing OakGlow.
This policy also applies to in-person interactions when a staff member is acting in an official capacity representing OakGlow.
Catch-All Rule
Users are expected to comply with reasonable staff instructions. Staff authority to issue directives exists only when necessary to:
- Enforce established rules
- Maintain order within the community
- Protect members of the community
- Safeguard digital and physical infrastructure
- Preserve the integrity of OakGlow
Any instruction given outside of these purposes is considered outside the scope of staff authority and may be addressed under disciplinary policy.
Abuse of Authority
Authority is granted with the understanding that all staff actions will comply with this policy. Any misuse of authority, violation of these guidelines, or bad-faith action may result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Termination section.
Expectations
Activity
Staff members are expected to be active on the server at least once per week. Consistent inactivity may result in suspension or demotion.
If real-life circumstances prevent regular activity, the staff member must inform the Senior Administrator. Temporary expectations may be established during this period. If an agreement cannot be reached or activity does not resume, the Senior Administrator reserves the right to terminate the staff member.
Conduct
Staff must conduct themselves professionally and respectfully while performing their duties, representing OakGlow, or interacting with community members.
All interactions across OakGlow platforms fall under this policy. If a staff member is interacting with someone where the shared connection is OakGlow, they are considered to be representing the network.
Staff are expected to remain composed, even when faced with hostility. These standards apply regardless of the behavior of the other party.
If a staff member is advised by another staff member to adjust their conduct in a situation not explicitly covered here and they ignore that guidance, they may be held accountable for resulting misconduct.
Age-Appropriate Interaction Policy
Staff must keep all interactions age-appropriate and aligned with U.S. legal standards regarding adult and minor interactions.
Staff interactions with community members must remain related to OakGlow and its activities. The following topics are prohibited unless explicitly necessary under emergency circumstances:
- Home addresses
- IP addresses
- Government-issued identification details
- Personally identifying information beyond preferred name and pronouns
- Offline activities unrelated to OakGlow
- Online activities unrelated to OakGlow
- Family, romantic, platonic, or sexual relationships
This list is not exhaustive. If uncertainty arises, staff must consult an Administrator before engaging in potentially inappropriate discussion.
Emergency Exception
In cases involving immediate danger — including domestic violence, credible threats, severe bullying, cyberbullying, or mental health crises — staff may communicate about otherwise restricted topics if necessary to ensure safety. Such interactions must be disclosed immediately to at least one Administrator. Staff must act in good faith and remain within the limits of their authority while prioritizing the safety of the affected individual.
Hiring
Application Process
The Senior Administrator may open or close staff applications at any time. Staff role counts and appointments are determined solely at the discretion of the Senior Administrator, who retains final authority over all hiring decisions.
Termination
Investigation
- Reports of staff misconduct must be investigated by an impartial staff member, typically the Senior Administrator.
- Access rights may be temporarily suspended (not exceeding one month without resolution).
- Attempts to obstruct the investigation may be treated as evidence of misconduct.
- A conclusion must be supported by tangible evidence.
- The accused staff member must be presented with the evidence and reasoning behind any disciplinary decision unless disclosure would compromise investigation sources. If necessary, sensitive sources may be anonymized.
- If an investigation is inconclusive, the ruling favors the staff member. However, repeated inconclusive investigations may be considered in future reviews.
- The Senior Administrator holds final authority in termination decisions.
Termination Procedure
- Any suspension, demotion, or termination must be documented.
- The affected staff member will have all access revoked immediately upon enforcement of disciplinary action.
- Where appropriate, staff changes may be communicated to the community.
Resignation
Procedure
Staff members may resign at any time. Reasonable notice is encouraged to allow for transition planning, project handoff, and recruitment. The resigning staff member must notify the Senior Administrator. Disclosure of resignation reasoning is optional.
Related Pages
Expectation overviews for specific roles are available here: