A security guard in Alberta is requested by their supervisor to perform a task that they believe is outside the scope of their licence and potentially illegal. What is the most principled course of action for the security guard?

Question: A security guard in Alberta is requested by their supervisor to perform a task that they believe is outside the scope of their licence and potentially illegal. What is the most principled course of action for the security guard?

Answer options:

• Perform the task as instructed, as refusing could lead to disciplinary action or job loss. ✅ Seek immediate clarification from the supervisor regarding the legality and scope of the task, and refuse if it remains outside their lawful authority.
• Report the supervisor to the provincial licensing body for issuing an inappropriate directive.
• Complete the task, but document the supervisor's instruction in their personal notes for future reference.

Correct answer: Seek immediate clarification from the supervisor regarding the legality and scope of the task, and refuse if it remains outside their lawful authority.

Explanation: Security guards are legally bound to operate within the scope of their licence and obey lawful commands. However, they also have a professional responsibility to refuse unlawful instructions. The most principled action is to seek clarification and, if the task is indeed outside legal boundaries or the licence scope, to refuse while reporting the issue through appropriate internal channels.