A press conference was held and a new commissioner was announced by the governor. The acting commissioner was not aware of the change and was not able to make an announcement to staff prior to the press conference. The rumor mill started as soon as the press conference ended that the agency was being dismantled and all the employees would be laid off. Was this a reasonable response to the change?

"Yes, because there was a climate of mistrust. Yes, because there was surprise and fear of the unknown. No, because there was a fear of failure. No, because, there was a history of disruption of group relationships. Yes, because there was a lack of a reward system."

Answer:

Yes, because there was surprise and fear of the unknown.

Explanation:

All employees were taken aback by the announcement of the new commissioner. As this situation was neither explained nor announced in advance to employees, it is normal for several rumors to arise about what prompted the appointment of a new commissioner, why the employees were surprised and how afraid of what this could mean within the company.

For this reason, we can say that the rumor that the company was dismantling and that everyone would be fired is reasonable because there was surprise and fear of the unknown, among employees.