Discussions about Hiring and Hiring Practices

[medixgrad]

I'm beginning to think I am going to have to start babysitting my employees. When I hire them and leave and then back later only part of the field is harvested or plowed, trees aren't touched or just harvested here and there. If I stay the field is completely cleared or plowed and trees done.
I at first thought that maybe due to glitches, people were kicked off the farm but since this is everytime I have hired people (I usually hire 2) in the last week or so I am wondering. None of the housekeeping tricks, clearing cache, refreshing etc... changes anything so that seems to leave the employees not doing what they are hired to do.
I know it's only a game but if you are hired kindly finish what you start.

[Mr. H]

Originally Posted by medixgrad

I'm beginning to think I am going to have to start babysitting my employees. When I hire them and leave and then back later only part of the field is harvested or plowed, trees aren't touched or just harvested here and there. If I stay the field is completely cleared or plowed and trees done.
I at first thought that maybe due to glitches, people were kicked off the farm but since this is everytime I have hired people (I usually hire 2) in the last week or so I am wondering. None of the housekeeping tricks, clearing cache, refreshing etc... changes anything so that seems to leave the employees not doing what they are hired to do.
I know it's only a game but if you are hired kindly finish what you start.

I'm guessing it's coincidence more than anything else.

I don't often work for others but I would never notice if you are there are not.

Most unfinished work is, I'm guessing, related to connection issues. I see no difference between being there and not being there. Stuff happens.

Now, trees are the exception.

If you want trees harvested you have to specifically ask for someone to do them. Most experienced workers will have their trees turned off and won't even see them. Plus, most would never do them unless asked. People are finicky about their trees and a lot of people don't want them done. That's handy because they are really not worth much for the harvester or the farmer.

Also, people may not see your instructions to harvest trees. A lot of people like to work in full screen mode and once in full screen all communication ceases.

[causingchaos]

I know in the past I haven't finished what I started because my real life has gotten in the way. Children needing stuff, elderly parents needing stuff people stopping over and phone calls all take precedence over a computer game. Or sometimes I think I can finish before going to work or an appointment and I can't and I don't always have time to give the farmer an explanation on where I'm going or what is going on in my life.

[schoolmarm]

Originally Posted by causingchaos

I know in the past I haven't finished what I started because my real life has gotten in the way. Children needing stuff, elderly parents needing stuff people stopping over and phone calls all take precedence over a computer game. Or sometimes I think I can finish before going to work or an appointment and I can't and I don't always have time to give the farmer an explanation on where I'm going or what is going on in my life.

There is the option of leaving a note before leaving their farm. Some use this to say thanks for the work when the owner of the farm has already left. If something in the real world interrupts, how about a quick "something unexpected in the real world and must leave game?"

Does this sound workable?

[Mr. H]

Originally Posted by causingchaos

I know in the past I haven't finished what I started because my real life has gotten in the way. Children needing stuff, elderly parents needing stuff people stopping over and phone calls all take precedence over a computer game. Or sometimes I think I can finish before going to work or an appointment and I can't and I don't always have time to give the farmer an explanation on where I'm going or what is going on in my life.

I don't have a problem with that at all.

Since the second farm was added I have had between 1800-1900 fields planted and usually hire from the MP multiple times a day to harvest and plow them.

People come and go all the time. Connection problems, real life problems.

I've rarely had anyone leave a note that they had issues but it's happened. I wouldn't think any less of you if you didn't. I'd just go grab another person to finish the job.

[Charo]

"sorry, rl" is more than enough and takes only 5 seconds at most to type.

[EmmyLo]

Hi everyone. I am fairly new to FT and have learned a lot about hiring and working on others farms just by reading this thread. However, I have one question. When I hire someone to harvest my farm, how do I get them to plow it when they are through? I know I can ask them, but how do I enable that for them? I hired someone to harvest my field and I asked them if they wanted to plow. They said "yes" then they stood there. Were they waiting for me to do something?

Advise is greatly appreciated!

Signed,
A Newbie

[jeanieNGMsfarm]

Originally Posted by EmmyLo

Hi everyone. I am fairly new to FT and have learned a lot about hiring and working on others farms just by reading this thread. However, I have one question. When I hire someone to harvest my farm, how do I get them to plow it when they are through? I know I can ask them, but how do I enable that for them? I hired someone to harvest my field and I asked them if they wanted to plow. They said "yes" then they stood there. Were they waiting for me to do something?

Advise is greatly appreciated!

Signed,
A Newbie

you have to click them and select hire to plow keep in mind you need 10 neighbors to hire to plow

[JAS0643]

Originally Posted by Mr. H

Plus, most would never do them unless asked. People are finicky about their trees and a lot of people don't want them done.

Although in the past a lot of people wouldn't harvest trees unless the person asked them to there is no need in that any more. If people don't want their trees harvested then they have the option to hire us where we can't harvest trees. In my opinion if I have the ability to harvest trees I assume the farmer wants them harvested so I harvest them. There is no need anymore for the bull s*** of asking for permission to harvest something on someone's farm. Also I never say I have trees that need harvesting when I go to the mp and I always get my 2000+ trees harvested with no problem.

[Mr. H]

Originally Posted by JAS0643

Although in the past a lot of people wouldn't harvest trees unless the person asked them to there is no need in that any more. If people don't want their trees harvested then they have the option to hire us where we can't harvest trees. In my opinion if I have the ability to harvest trees I assume the farmer wants them harvested so I harvest them. There is no need anymore for the bull s*** of asking for permission to harvest something on someone's farm. Also I never say I have trees that need harvesting when I go to the mp and I always get my 2000+ trees harvested with no problem.

It's been my experience that a lot of people don't fully read the info box when they get hired and the vast majority, me included, don't have the trees on most of the time so don't even see them. One of my farms is mostly covered with trees and you can't even harvest with them on. The orginial has about 140 on top of a portion of the crops so they need to be off to get it all done.

I've read the box, knew I was getting hired to do both crops and trees and totally forgotten about it by the time I'm done harvesting because they aren't on. And, I hire two people to harvest on each of my farms 3 to 5 times a day and I get questions about trees every day....can they do them or why can't they do them. So, I know there's still some confusion even after all this time.

I've also inadvertantly clicked the wrong hire option. Usually they never touch the trees. But, I also tend to hire the more aggressive job hunters. They tend to want to get right to the plowing as soon as possible.

I don't think it's b.s. to ask someone about the trees if you want to do them or you want them done. It's just common courtesy. It eliminates confusion.

Anyway, the original reason for responding was the "babysitting" comment.

I hire from the MP way more than the average player and my experiences have been, overall, very, very good.

Connection issues can be a problem. Communicaton can be a problem sometimes...I can't tell you how many people I've hired who didn't have great command of the English language. I've hired people from all over Europe, Asia and Australia and every part of the US.

I never expect my next hire to be my new best friend, but I have made some friends there.

I hire only to get the work done and to get them and me some points and coins.

I tend to hire the more aggressive job seekers, but never those that flood the chat box.

I have rarely had issues but stuff happens. I spent an extra 20 minutes the other day with a woman with connection problems getting her to refresh and rehiring her so she could finish plowing and get the points. If I hadn't been there I would have come back to an unfinished job and thought she got booted. I would have never thought she was a slacker that didn't finish the job. I would have assumed connection issues and I'd have been right.