PSEE Situational Judgment and Work Ethics

Question 1

You discover that a coworker has been submitting false overtime reports. What is the most appropriate action?

Accepted Answer

Report the issue to your supervisor or ethics office through proper channels

Answer

Ignore it to avoid conflict

Answer

Confront the coworker aggressively in front of others

Answer

Tell other coworkers about it

Question 2

A citizen approaches your desk and is visibly upset about a denied application. What is the best response?

Accepted Answer

Listen calmly, acknowledge their concern, and explain the process for appealing the decision

Answer

Tell them to leave and come back when they calm down

Answer

Simply repeat 'rules are rules' until they leave

Answer

Immediately approve their application to avoid conflict

Question 3

Your supervisor asks you to complete a task you believe violates agency policy. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Calmly express your concern to your supervisor and ask for clarification or written authorization

Answer

Complete the task without question to show loyalty

Answer

Refuse the task and immediately go to the media

Answer

Complete the task but complain to coworkers afterward

Question 4

You have access to sensitive citizen data as part of your job. A friend asks you for information about a mutual acquaintance in the system. You should:

Accepted Answer

Decline and explain that accessing records without authorization violates privacy laws

Answer

Provide the information since it is just between friends

Answer

Check if the acquaintance is a high-profile person first

Answer

Access the information but do not tell anyone

Question 5

You are assigned more work than you can reasonably complete by the deadline. What is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

Inform your supervisor promptly about the workload and discuss priorities or additional resources

Answer

Submit incomplete work without notifying anyone

Answer

Work overtime every day without telling your supervisor about the workload

Answer

Delegate your work to coworkers without permission

Question 6

A citizen asks you a question about a government benefit you are not familiar with. What should you do?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge that you don't have the exact answer but will find the correct information or direct them to the right office

Answer

Make up an answer that sounds reasonable

Answer

Tell the citizen to figure it out themselves

Answer

Refuse to help since it is not your area