A new probationary clerk refuses to do a job the supervisor asks her to do. What is the first thing you should do?

A new probationary clerk refuses to do a job the supervisor asks her to do. What is the first thing you should do?

• A. Circumvent addressing the refusal and assign the task anyway.
• B. Set a deadline and escalate to a higher authority.
• C. Tell her to do it or face consequences.
• D. Ask for the reason for her objection.

Answer: (D)

The first move is to ask for the reason for her objection. Starting with a calm, open-ended question shows respect, keeps the line of communication clear, and helps you understand whether the refusal stems from a safety concern, a training gap, a policy or workload issue, or a simple misunderstanding of the task. By hearing her perspective, you can determine if the task is appropriate, if additional guidance or resources are needed, or if a different approach is required. This approach also sets a constructive tone for probationary staff, demonstrating that concerns are heard before any consequences or escalations. Jumping straight to assigning the task, threatening consequences, or escalating without understanding the objection can create unfairness, potential policy or safety problems, and erode trust.

The first move is to ask for the reason for her objection. Starting with a calm, open-ended question shows respect, keeps the line of communication clear, and helps you understand whether the refusal stems from a safety concern, a training gap, a policy or workload issue, or a simple misunderstanding of the task. By hearing her perspective, you can determine if the task is appropriate, if additional guidance or resources are needed, or if a different approach is required. This approach also sets a constructive tone for probationary staff, demonstrating that concerns are heard before any consequences or escalations. Jumping straight to assigning the task, threatening consequences, or escalating without understanding the objection can create unfairness, potential policy or safety problems, and erode trust.