Final answer:
In transitioning from centralized to decentralized staffing, there is a risk that employees may be treated unequally or inconsistently due to varying departmental standards and resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a community health unit transitions from centralized staffing to decentralized staffing, the manager should be aware of a possible consequence of this change. Decentralized staffing often involves assigning staffing responsibilities to individual departments rather than having them managed by a single, central body. Therefore, while this can increase flexibility and responsiveness to department-specific needs, it also carries certain risks. One such risk is that employees may be treated unequally or inconsistently, which is a concern mentioned in the question as option 4. This may occur because different departments might have varying standards or resources, leading to discrepancies in how staff members are treated across the organization.