I've never seen this either. They won't direct work automatically, you have to drop them on the right spot such as the research table, hut being built, etc. I've had several chiefs in different games and they've never refused to direct work, apart from a kid chief who couldn't direct the work on fishing. Being a kid he couldn't swim, so was immediately warped to dry land when I tried him. In addition chiefs can't teach other kids; you have to wait until they reach 18 for that.
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To err is human; to arr is pirate.