Erik has been putting off a decision about firing several workers who have been ignoring safety regulations on the factory floor. after all, he thinks, his boss will eventually notice and take action. erik is experiencing a(n) reaction.

I believe the answer is: Defensive avoidance

Defensive avoidance refers to the effort which is made by  an individual to postpone or avoide the stress from making a decision. This type of avoidance usually arise when people are forced to choose between outcomes that both seen as undesirable for them.

answer; primary source information;

answer; environmental science;