reluctant

Employees are reluctant to complain about this barbarous mistreatment.

Employers are reluctant to lay off workers because they aren’t confident they can fill roles when labor demand returns.

But she’s a reluctant sleuth in a knotty case with a head full of noise and a shaky hand on the lighter.

That was slow compared with the 4.5% increase in the first three quarters of the year, as consumers remained reluctant to open their wallets despite government programs to subsidize purchases of certain goods.

Many readers will be grateful that Mr. Boyd has brought back his reluctant spy and accidental hero for a second outing.