diff --git a/doc/contributing/offboarding.md b/doc/contributing/offboarding.md
index 87f21103540bef..f30688a33d0d87 100644
--- a/doc/contributing/offboarding.md
+++ b/doc/contributing/offboarding.md
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ emeritus or leaves the project.
     a team listing. For example, if someone is removed from @nodejs/build,
     they should also be removed from the Build WG README.md file in the
     <https://github.com/nodejs/build> repository.
+  * When in doubt, especially if you are unable to get in contact with the
+    collaborator, remove them from all teams. It is easy enough to add them
+    back later, so we err on the side of privacy and security.
 * Open an issue in the [build](https://github.com/nodejs/build) repository
   titled `Remove Collaborator from Coverity` asking that the collaborator
   be removed from the Node.js coverity project if they had access.