When working on a Riipen project, team dynamics can sometimes be challenging, especially if one of your collaborators becomes unresponsive or inactive. If this happens, there are steps you can take to keep your project moving and make sure your individual contributions are clearly documented.
Start by assuming positive intent. They may be dealing with something unexpected or may have missed a notification. Keep your communication professional, respectful, and focused on what you need to move forward.
Communicate early and regularly: Raise questions and flag blockers before they become urgent. This gives your teammates and employer time to respond and helps prevent communication delays from putting program deadlines at risk.
Keep your Riipen notifications turned on: If you or other project stakeholders have turned notifications off, messages may go unnoticed. Encourage everyone to check their notification settings and review project messages regularly.
What to do if your team member is unresponsive
If your program includes payment, an unresponsive team member does not, by itself, determine whether you are eligible for payment. Payment eligibility is based on the requirements of your specific program.
Note: a program can refer to your experience, cohort or the unique program that you are participating in.
Steps to take
Continue your assigned role: Focus on completing the tasks for your assigned role and ensure your work meets your individual project requirements.
Document your efforts: Keep a clear record of the work you complete, as well as relevant attempts to communicate with unresponsive team members. Prioritize using Riipen's project communication and submission tools so there is a record of your participation.
Proceed with active team members: Continue working with active team members and adjust how you coordinate your existing responsibilities where needed. You are not required to take on work assigned to an inactive team member.
Clarify scope and expectations: Contact Riipen or the program facilitator for guidance if your ability to meet your individual or team contribution to project requirements is impacted. Examples of this include:
a required deliverable depends on the inactive team member
the remaining team cannot reasonably complete the original scope
responsibilities or deadlines need significant changes
the situation may affect program completion requirements
Complete Required Submissions: Continue completing milestones, deliverables, and other project requirements that apply to you and the remaining active team members. Clearly identify your individual contributions where appropriate
Impact on payment
Some Riipen programs offer stipends or other forms of payment. For those programs:
Inactive team members: An inactive team member does not, by itself, affect your payment eligibility. Your eligibility is based on meeting the requirements of your specific program.
Optional additional work: While you may choose to take on extra tasks to cover gaps, this is not required. You will not be compensated for taking on the work of inactive team members.
Program requirements are key: Program-specific participation, completion, hours, milestones and payment requirements still apply. See the program’s learner participation agreement for these requirements.
Additional guidance
Solo work: If you are the only active team member, continue working independently. Clearly explain your approach and progress when submitting milestones.
Rejoining team members: If a previously unresponsive team member wants to rejoin, they can submit their role’s contribution separately. This does not need to match the larger team’s submission.
Missed kick-off or employer meeting: Review available meeting notes, recordings, messages or project information. If information is still missing, contact the employer or program contact for clarification.
Communicate with the project stakeholders: Communication is key, always discuss challenges with the employer and/or instructor to help fill gaps without taking on an inactive team member's work.
What to do if your employer is unresponsive
Send a clear message: Contact your employer through your project’s Riipen chat or an agreed communication channel. Explain what information, feedback, access, or decision you need, how it affects your work, and when you need a response.
Follow up through an available channel: If you haven’t heard back, send a polite follow-up. You can also try another communication channel your employer has provided.
Coordinate with your teammates: Check whether anyone else has heard from the employer, and agree on one clear message outlining what the team needs to move forward.
Continue work that is not blocked: Review the project brief, meeting notes, and previous messages for information you can use. Continue your existing responsibilities where possible, and keep a record of work completed and anything awaiting employer input.
Identify what needs clarification: Note any missing direction, access, feedback, or approvals that prevent progress. Do not assume that a delayed response changes your project scope, deadlines, or program requirements.
When to contact Riipen
If your team member or employer is still unresponsive after two contact attempts and at least three days since your first unanswered message, you’re welcome to contact Riipen Support for help. If you’re able to keep progressing and prefer to continue trying to resolve the situation directly, you can do so.
You can reach out sooner if an approaching deadline or a significant project blocker makes waiting impractical. See your experience resources for guidance on experience/program requirements.
To reach Riipen Support, send a message using Riipen's live chat feature. Share the url link of your Riipen team page, who is unresponsive, when and how you tried to reach them, what you need help with, and any work or deadlines affected. Provide what you have available so we can review the situation and help determine the next steps.
Key takeaways
Focus on the work and responsibilities within your control.
Keep a clear record of your individual contributions.
Communicate with remaining team members and project stakeholders.
Where applicable, payment eligibility is based on meeting the requirements of your specific program. An inactive team member does not, by itself, affect your eligibility.
By following these steps, you can navigate challenges with unresponsive teammates and ensure your contributions are recognized.