Is this deflection?

My supervisor was explaining new stocking procedures going forward to our department. He pointed out an employee in our department wasn't following protocol. I asked then why isn't he reprimanded for his actions? My supervisors response was you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Then I replied with how long do I have to work here before I become an old dog and how long do I have to work here before I'm exempt from the new stocking procedures? 

The scenario and conversation illustrate potential logical fallacies and poor reasoning. Let's analyze them:

1. **Deflection**: The supervisor's response, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks," is indeed a form of deflection. Instead of addressing the question regarding why the employee isn't reprimanded for not following protocol, the supervisor shifts focus to an idiomatic phrase that implies older employees can't learn new procedures. This response avoids addressing the accountability and corrective action that should be in place for not following protocols.

2. **Appeal to Tradition**: The phrase "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is an appeal to tradition. It suggests that because someone has been accustomed to doing things a certain way for a long time, they can't be expected to change, which is not necessarily true. People, regardless of age or tenure, can adapt to new procedures with proper training and support.

3. **Avoidance of Responsibility**: By citing the difficulty of teaching new tricks to "old dogs," the supervisor avoids taking responsibility for enforcing company policies consistently among all employees, regardless of their experience or age. This line of reasoning might lead to inconsistent application of rules and potentially foster a sense of unfairness within the team.

4. **Slippery Slope**: The employee's follow-up question about the length of time required to become an "old dog" is a slippery slope argument. It implies an extreme outcome where new procedures would eventually become ineffective because no one would be held accountable, framing the situation as if all employees might eventually be exempt from following procedures due to tenure.

Overall, the conversation shows a lack of logic in enforcing or explaining procedural changes and policies, revealing deflection and reasoning based on clichés rather than concrete managerial principles.