Staff disappearing after promotion

[Millie]

How do you handle staff members you promote onto the team, stay active for a short while and then drop off the radar or cease logging onto the forum?

Do you attempt to reach out to them? Kick them out the team straight away? Or leave it for a certain period of time first?

 

[John]

I mean, I think this is why vetting before hire is super important. Obviously sometimes things outside of people’s control happen, but if you build a relationship with someone before you hire them, the chances of them disappearing are pretty slim.

 

[Gizmo]

It always makes me wonder why people apply for jobs if they won't show up.

I've heard this happening in real life too.

 

[Felly]

This was always one of the most frustrating things for me when I was running forums. I would decide to hire people or bring people on as staff, they would be active for a little while, and then they'd just... disappear, or do very little for the site other than the occasional post here and there but never really helped with anything staff related. It was incredibly frustrating being the only person who was willing to really do anything on the site to a point where I ultimately felt the need to step back because the passion was no longer there, and I was simply burnt out. The hardest part was always letting go because of how much time, effort, and work was put into it.

I used to try and nudge people in my last round of running a site because I think I was just entirely too forgiving, but eventually, I just kinda accepted fate and started demoting people if they were no longer active, especially after repeated promises of returning to activity. I am very much in the boat of "real life takes precedence over online communities," but at some point, it's important to recognize that you may not have time to accept a staff position in your life at that time, and that's okay! Or simply being staff on a community simply isn't for that person, and that's okay too!

It always makes me wonder why people apply for jobs if they won't show up.

I've heard this happening in real life too.

My favorite is when they show up and just don't do the work or complain about the work load. Usually in online communities, at least the ones I've been a part of, people are eager to start doing staff activities once they're promoted and never really complain. But man, in real life, it's the complete opposite, and people just complain about the work load or just don't do certain parts of the job. It's just wild to me.

 

[Mike30]

Many just apply to have the "Staff" title.
Just set the rules before hiring them. No show up for x days, -> Demoted.
Also, I see many forums wanting to have "Free" staff. If you are asking for free, there is no much you can require. Specially on forums
with no much activity.

Dear forum owners, running a forum 9 out of 10 is a hobby that you have to put $$$ into it like any other hobby.
If you are in it to make business, then expect to invest even more. Free doesn't make it or it will take you very long time to amount to something.

 

[Page]

See that all the time, they get promoted then after awhile they have to leave since of realife or whatever the main reasons are and those that that are very active that did not get approved more likely get upset

 

[Katrina]

I'll let you all in on a secret...

At FP we've had people sign up just to read things in the staff forums. After putting up with that nonsense, we've hidden most of the archives and such now, especially now that we've learned there have been leaks.

It's really not too difficult to devote 15 minutes a day on a forum. I get a lot done in 15 minutes 🙂

 

[Mike30]

people sign up just to read things in the staff forums

I started to have that situation not long ago, not with staff because I currently don't have, but to get other info from me. If they only knew they could get more out of me if they were truthful and sincere with their intention. God help them! 🙂

 

[Katrina]

I started to have that situation not long ago, not with staff because I currently don't have, but to get other info from me. If they only knew they could get more out of me if they were truthful and sincere with their intention. God help them! 🙂

Yeah, I only share a lot of my "plans" with select few now. Most things just stay in my office away from everyone but the other Admins until I decide to reveal them.

 

[NeoMetallix]

I give them some time to come back. If it was super active and imperative that we have active staff at all times I would give less time but if a staff hasn't been active in six months I'll let them go. They can return and ask for it back if they feel like they won't be gone.

 

[Jay™]

Most join staff to have the title and to say they have some sort of power, many of them do jackshit to help the site progress, I see some that are staff on many sites that do nothing, and some use it to read leak information.

Most sites don't need that many staff members.

 

[MrDawn]

Most join staff to have the title and to say they have some sort of power, many of them do jackshit to help the site progress, I see some that are staff on many sites that do nothing,

I recently ran into this issue on a forum I've been modding on for a few years now. All they did was cause problems. Glad we finally got rid of them. Too bad it didn't happen sooner.

 

[Kaynil]

How do you handle staff members you promote onto the team, stay active for a short while and then drop off the radar or cease logging onto the forum?

Do you attempt to reach out to them? Kick them out the team straight away? Or leave it for a certain period of time first?

I guess it varies a bit but it is a mixture of them. I usually don't promote people unless I feel I need them and I've known them for a while or at very least have some common ground with the community niche. So my staff tends to be people that have gained my trust.

If they stop coming first give them some time for them to come back and tell me themselves. Sometimes life happens and it can take a while before the community even crosses their mind with all they could be juggling with at the time. If I haven't heard of them in a good amount of time then I try to contact them and check what is going on. Usually by that point the talks tend to be in demoting them 'temporarily' as in, I don't want them to dread or feel pressure for the community when things changed. I tell them that they are always welcome to be back to the team whenever they feel they can do that, no stress and they can tell me any time things change and to feel free to drop by the community whenever they feel like.

If a obscenely amount of time has passed and I can't get in touch with them then I will be demoting them and possibly try to find someone to fill the spot if the activity calls for it.

 

[XtyneHappy]

How do you handle staff members you promote onto the team, stay active for a short while and then drop off the radar or cease logging onto the forum?

Do you attempt to reach out to them? Kick them out the team straight away? Or leave it for a certain period of time first?

Though l don't have a forum but l think the best way is to leave them as they would return on the forums willingly.

 

[Fidelia]

If a staff can't come online on a forum he is working on, for 2 weeks straight, there is absolutely no need for keeping such a person as a staff. You just have to demote them. They can't be filling vacancies that they are not being active on.

 

[Demon_skeith]

I've had it a few times, I try to contact them and if no contact within a month demote them.

 

[Baw$e]

I keep in touch with my staff on Facebook. They need to have a way where I can instant message, if they're on my team.