The Sims 4 Get to Work: Retail Guide
Managing Employees, Satisfaction, and Giving Promotions
As Employees' Skills rise, they deserve Promotions if you want to maintain their satisfaction, and thus employment.
This is a continuation of our section on managing a Retail Store in The Sims 4 Get to Work. For the basics, start with Opening a Retail Business: The Basics of Running a Store. This section will cover Employees in detail. I'll also provide some general tips for improving your business here. In the next guide, we'll look at Customers and Sales, then Retail Perks.
Managing Employees
Employees' Role
While Maxis may improve the AI of Employees in some future patch, for now I can say that they're definitely not meant to take care of everything. Left on their own, there will be very few sales. You will not get Retail Perk Points for their interactions with customers. This means it's best to have your own Sim working customers, while they take care of restocking and cleaning. It's not a bad idea to have them answer customers' questions, either, but when they get tied up talking in group conversations, a lot of sales can be lost if you rely on them to ring up all the time. You should also watch for their roles to shift and manage them every day, sometimes checking on their assigned role multiple times during a shift.
Managing Employees means maintaining satisfaction while raising their skills and putting them to best use.
Improving Skills
As previously discussed, employees can go up in level based on what they're doing in your store and gaining experience in those areas. It is in your best interest to keep employees happy for this reason. They'll work harder for you, and you'll waste less time on employees that have low Skill in the areas you need - particularly work ethic. Here are the three Employee Skills and how they can be improved. It's fairly obvious, but important nonetheless.
- Maintenance - High Maintenance allows Sims to restock items in the store faster, as well as clean it. Just assign them to these types of tasks and they will gradually improve. Only assign this one here and there. Employees are particularly useful for cleaning, as I do not often notice the dirty objects in the store and it does lead to and Uncomfortable moodlet for those in the store.
- Sales - Sales directly relates to the Sim's ability to pitch sales to customers as well as ring them up. When you set them to this, they'll improve. It's good to have them on answering customers' questions when there is nothing else to do, because they can drive sales. You should do the majority of ringing up by yourself, but may want their help on a very busy day.
- Work Ethic - As you berate for slacking and praise them, their work ethic will gradually improve. This reduces the frequency of slacking. Sims with high work ethic take priority for me, because their other skills improve with time and you will spend less time berating, and more time praising in order to keep the worker's satisfaction up.
10 Million Views! My YouTube channel has grown a lot the last 6 months. I now have over 125 videos on Youtube and am nearing 100k subscribers. I'd like to invite people to check out my content and, if you like what I'm doing, subscribe!
Restocking is a task best suited for your employees or done after hours on a busy day.
Work Tasks
You should assign your employees' work tasks based on what needs done. Simply click the employee, then assign them to something.:
- Clean Store - Do this whenever an uncomfortable moodlet pops up from the store being dirty. Your Sim doesn't seem to be able to clean things, but employees can take care of that.
- Restock Sold Goods - Do this whenever there are multiple things that need restocking, in order to open up your customers' options.
- Answer Customers' Questions - When nothing else needs done, this is a good choice. Your employees will work customers a little, and possibly raise their sell bars.
- Ring Up Customers - Instruct an employee to do this when you see multiple customer sell bars filling at once, or whenever you've lowered prices to move products. They will indeed help, just not that reliably if they get tied up in group conversations.
Financial Reports calculate your profit. Revenues minus restocking costs and Employees' hourly wages. Hiring another can be a big decision when they cost upwards of $400/day.
Employee Job Levels & Satisfaction
Employees have job levels and set pay that scales a bit based on their Skills once they reach Executive Sales Associate. When an employee gains a Skill level, their Satisfaction will fall if they feel they are not being paid enough. You can keep Satisfaction around neutral or above by using 'Check Up On' and 'Praise'. Don't hesitate to 'Berate for Slacking' as the option will only be available if they have been doing so. That option along with criticize gives some skill experience in work ethic. If their pay is too low and they're very dissatisfied, this might be a bad idea though. They should get a promotion when it's due. Here are the rough pay levels and guidelines for when an employee should be promoted to that level. This is about what it will take to get an employee to 'Satisfied' or 'Very Satisfied' along with regular use of the two positive reinforcement socials at your disposal.
Employee Pay, Satisfaction Metrics, and Job Titles
| Job Title | Wages | Recommended Skill Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Sales Associate | $19/hour | 6 total Skill Levels |
| Assistant Sales Associate | $24/hour | 8 total Skill Levels |
| Sales Associate | $31/hour | 10 total Skill Levels |
| Senior Sales Associate | $40/hour | 12 total Skill levels |
| Executive Sales Associate | $51/hour | 12+ total Skill levels |
It was mentioned in the introductory guide, but is worth repeating. It's best to use 'Allow to Clock Out Early' when you are running a long shift that approaches 9 hours. Use the Retail Shop interface to see how long you've been open, and consider using this to show employees some mercy when they have been working too long. It does help with their satisfaction level.
Onward to Sales and Customers!
You're on page 2 of a four-part piece on Managing Businesses in the Sims 4 Get to Work. Next up is Customers & Sales. Head back to the beginning if you still need the basics.
Other Get to Work Guides
Expansion Guide
Retail Guide
Retail: Customers and Sales
Retail: Employees and Managing
Retail Perks in Get to Work
Aliens
Baking Skill Guide
Photography Skill Guide
Detective Career
Doctor Career, Diseases and Diagnosing Patients
Scientist Career
Planet Sixam (Alien World)
How You Can Support The Site and Channel
Check Out My Youtube Channel!
We now have a Youtube Channel with over 50 guides in video format to go along with the huge site I've already created. Check it out and consider subscribing if you like my style.
Add Comment
Insert Bullet List
Please enter at least one item.
Item:
Item:
Item:
Item:
Item:
Insert Numeric List
Please enter at least one item.
Item:
Item:
Item:
Item:
Item:
Insert Link
Please enter the link of the website
Optionally you can add display text
Insert Email
Please enter the email address
Optionally add any display text
Insert Image
Please enter the link of the image
Insert YouTube Video
Please enter the link of the video
Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff
Paranormal Stuff comes January 26, 2021. You can learn about the new pack on the page I've just published. It features Hauntings, a new Medium skill, and a Paranormal Investigator Career. Paranormal Stuff also marks the return of Bonehilda to The Sims.
Sims 4 Snowy Escape
The Sims 4 Snowy Escape launches November 13, 2020 and my coverage has started. Until I get my review ready, you can learn about the following:
Snowy Escape Cheats
Lifestyles in Snowy Escape
Climb Mt. Komorebi
Sentiments in Snowy Escape
Rock Climbing
Skiing Skill
Snowboarding Skill
Sentiments & Platforms (Free Patch!)
I've released a guide to Sentiments in The Sims 4 & Snowy Escape.
There is a new platform tool in The Sims 4. There's also a new Sentiments system, but it'll take some time to create a guide to that. Players can also use rental lots in any world now by changing lot types of builds in manage worlds.
Best Mods in Sims 4
I've created a massive List of The Best Mods in The Sims 4 that should be very helpful to new players and those who have not yet explored modding and how much it can do for your gameplay.
Secrets and Other New Stuff
New - Secrets I have a new guide to secrets in the game. If you prefer, you can also watch a video about secrets in Sims 4.
Nifty Knitting is now available. Learn all about the stuff pack on my guide page here.
NEW - Nifty Knitting CheatsNew features in the Sims 4 June 2020
The Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle Guide
Eco Footprint: How it Works
Neighborhood Action Plans
How to Cheat in Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle
Civil Designer Career
Insect Farms & Bio Fuel
Fabrication Skill in Eco Lifestyle
Juice Fizzing NEW
Traits and Aspirations in DLC
Gameplay Ideas for Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle
Updated
Trait Cheats Updated
Traits List Updated
Aspirations List Updated
Search my Sims 4 Site
Get to Work: Retail
Support Us
Readers who use adblock or those who'd like to thank me for my efforts can now pledge $1/$5 monthly via Patreon. This helps a lot with server costs and provides some stability for my business.
Super Sim Checklist + Other News
Super Sim Text + Checklist and Video Guide! Here is my Super Sim Challenge Guide and Checklist to accompany my video guide to making Super Sims in The Sims 4 that you can view on Youtube.
This is inspired by a new series in which I start at toddler and gradually take on the major bonuses. Here's a link to the full playlist!
I now have a guide page to Tiny Living Stuff where you can learn about Murphy Beds, the new death, as well as the lot bonuses you'll receive if you manage to keep the size of your lot down with this new pack's Tiny Home Lot Type.
Let's Play Playlist
New I now have a guide to Making Super Sims in The Sims 4. Look for a text version within the next 72h. It won't have THAT much more info but it will help out as a checklist.
This was inspired by a series, "Let's Play a Super Sim" in which I start at toddler and gradually take on the major bonuses. Here's a link to each part for people who are interested. You can also see the Let's Play as a Playlist on Youtube.
Latest Videos and Guides
- Sims 4 Ultimate Gameplay Tips Video
- Lot Traits Updated for all DLC
- 10 Objects that Add Gameplay to The Sims 4
- 10+ Mods That Add or Improve Gameplay in The Sims 4
- Spells List Updated & Info on Charge
- Around the World of Glimmerbrook
- Sims 4 Realm of Magic is Available Now. Here’s My Opinion On the Pack
- The Sims 4 Realm of Magic Features Deep-Dive
- Tutorial: Using The Sims 4’s New Stair Customization Tool
Discover University Expansion
The Sims 4 Discover University has been announced for November 15 for PC/Mac and December 17 for Xbox and Playstation 4 consoles. Click to learn more about the pack, see my summary of the livestream or read our FAQs below.
- New Career Law Career
- New Video Discover University Review
- New Video The Sims 4 Discover University Super Student
- New Engineering Career - Mechanical or Computer
- NEW Student Organizations (University Groups)
- Gameplay Features Guide (Robotics, Secret Society) Video
- Updated! Discover University Cheats
- Updated: Degrees Guide now also features a Scholarships List
- Discover University Features Guide
- Education Career - Professor or Administrator?
- Research and Debate Skill - Convince Others & Debate Guild
- Robotics and Cybernetics
- The Secret Society of Britechester
Other Guides to Discover University:
New Lot Traits: Study Spot and University Student Hang Out
New: Discover University FAQ: Gameplay Features
New Video The Sims 4 Discover University Gameplay Tips Video
More videos coming soon!
Comments (16)
Is it possible to let the employee open the store and earn money them selvs without me opening the store? cuz I hv a job already.