NJ Interpersonal Relations & Judgment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A coworker confides that personal problems are affecting their work performance. What is the most appropriate response?
- Tell other coworkers so they can offer support
- Listen empathetically and suggest they contact an Employee Assistance Program counselor (Correct answer)
- Document the conversation and submit it immediately to HR
- Ignore the situation since it is a personal matter
Correct answer: Listen empathetically and suggest they contact an Employee Assistance Program counselor
Listening empathetically and directing the employee to professional resources like an EAP is supportive without overstepping appropriate boundaries.
Question 2: You are assigned to a team project but one member is not contributing their fair share. What should you do first?
- Complete all the work yourself and report the member to the supervisor
- Speak directly with the team member to understand any obstacles they are facing (Correct answer)
- Divide the noncontributing member's tasks among the rest of the team silently
- Remove the member from the project without consulting anyone
Correct answer: Speak directly with the team member to understand any obstacles they are facing
Speaking directly with the team member first allows you to understand the cause before escalating or redistributing work.
Question 3: A citizen complains to you that a colleague was rude and unhelpful during a recent interaction. As a supervisor, what is your first step?
- Publicly reprimand the employee in front of the rest of the team
- Dismiss the complaint since citizen complaints are often exaggerated
- Investigate by speaking with the employee and any available witnesses (Correct answer)
- Automatically suspend the employee pending a full investigation
Correct answer: Investigate by speaking with the employee and any available witnesses
Investigating fairly by gathering information from all parties before acting is the appropriate supervisory response to a complaint.
Question 4: You are asked to formally evaluate the job performance of a colleague you personally dislike. What should guide your evaluation?
- Your personal feelings, since they reflect an honest opinion
- Objective job performance criteria and documented evidence (Correct answer)
- Feedback from others who share your negative opinion of the colleague
- The colleague's seniority and years of service alone
Correct answer: Objective job performance criteria and documented evidence
Performance evaluations must be based on documented, objective criteria to be fair, valid, and legally defensible.
Question 5: Your supervisor gives you instructions that you believe may conflict with established agency policy. What should you do?
- Follow the instructions without question since the supervisor has authority
- Refuse to comply and immediately walk off the job
- Ask your supervisor to clarify how the instruction aligns with agency policy (Correct answer)
- Bypass your supervisor and contact the Inspector General's office immediately
Correct answer: Ask your supervisor to clarify how the instruction aligns with agency policy
Asking for clarification ensures you understand the instruction correctly and gives your supervisor the chance to address any policy conflict directly.
Question 6: A coworker from another unit requests access to files in your department to assist with their own project. What should you do?
- Share everything immediately to demonstrate cooperation
- Refuse all requests from other units to protect your department's work
- Verify whether you are authorized to share the information before responding (Correct answer)
- Refer them to the department director regardless of the nature of the request
Correct answer: Verify whether you are authorized to share the information before responding
Verifying authorization before sharing information protects confidentiality while still allowing legitimate interdepartmental cooperation.
Question 7: During a stressful period, you notice a colleague behaving in an increasingly unusual or erratic manner at work. What is the most responsible action?
- Warn other coworkers to be cautious around this person
- Confront the colleague directly and aggressively about their behavior
- Discreetly bring your concern to your supervisor or HR (Correct answer)
- Continue working normally and avoid the colleague entirely
Correct answer: Discreetly bring your concern to your supervisor or HR
Discreetly raising the concern with a supervisor or HR allows trained personnel to address the situation appropriately and protect everyone involved.
NJ Interpersonal Relations & Judgment 2
A coworker confides that personal problems are affecting their work performance.
What is the most appropriate response?