An employee complains about another being late, attributing it to laziness. What error is the complaining employee most likely making?

The correct answer reveals the concept of fundamental attribution error, which occurs when individuals overly emphasize personal characteristics—such as laziness—when explaining someone else's behavior, while relatively downplaying situational factors. In this scenario, the employee who complains about the tardiness is attributing the other employee's lateness solely to their character traits rather than considering possible external circumstances, like traffic, personal emergencies, or workload pressures that could have contributed to the delay.

This misattribution reflects a cognitive bias where the individual fails to recognize that external factors can significantly impact behavior. Understanding this error is essential for fostering a more empathetic workplace culture and addressing interpersonal issues constructively.