To maintain the best morale in his or her staff, a supervisor should?

• A. Tell the inefficient worker to get busy.
• B. Maintain fairness and impartiality consistently.
• C. Praise the good worker in the presence of the staff.
• D. Give sarcastic criticism to the slow worker whenever the occasion demands.

Answer: (B)

Maintaining staff morale hinges on applying rules and feedback with fairness and impartiality. When people trust that decisions are based on consistent, objective criteria, they feel respected and secure, which keeps motivation and commitment high. This prevents perceptions of favoritism and clarifies expectations so everyone understands where they stand.

Telling an inefficient worker to “get busy” tends to feel punitive and personal, which can lower morale and foster resentment rather than improvement. Praising a single worker in front of the team can boost that person’s morale but may create or signal unfairness if not done consistently. Sarcastic criticism is demoralizing and undermines trust and teamwork. Consistently fair and impartial treatment, with clear criteria for feedback and rewards, best supports morale across the whole staff.