Availability & "Touch Grass" Guidelines

General Staff Expectations & Availability

All staff positions within Wayfarer are volunteer roles. We strongly encourage staff members to take breaks when needed and prioritize their personal wellbeing, mental health, school, work, family, or other real-life responsibilities. Nobody will be judged for needing time away from the project.

At the same time, prolonged inactivity or extended absence without communication may result in a staff member being placed on a long-term Leave of Absence status until they are ready to return. This is not considered a firing or punitive action, but rather a way to maintain organizational clarity and ensure responsibilities remain actively covered while preserving the opportunity for returning staff to rejoin later.

Touch Grass Policy

We believe in maintaining a healthy life-to-project balance. While we greatly appreciate the passion, time, and energy that staff members dedicate toward the project, we also recognize that overcommitment can lead to burnout, frustration, unhealthy habits, or loss of enjoyment in both the game and the project itself.

Because of this, leadership may occasionally encourage or request that a staff member "touch grass", meaning taking a temporary step back from project responsibilities to rest, refocus, spend time on personal life, or simply experience the game as a normal player again.

This is not intended as punishment, discipline, or removal from the team. In many cases, it is the opposite: an effort to help prevent burnout before it happens and maintain long-term wellbeing for our staff and community members.