Staff XP and Cleaner Restocking Settings
Your Management level climbs, but the cleaner still cannot restock a shelf. Apocalypse payroll has two separate ladders. In The Walking Trade, start by checking whose XP—experience points—you are tracking.
Version note: This section covers Steam PC through v1.2.11 as of October 19, 2026. Microwave Games added these cleaner controls in v1.2.10 and revised the pallet restocking setting in v1.2.11.
Check the right experience system
- Management XP: This is your character’s experience. Opening scavenger deliveries gives you Management XP.
- Employee role XP: This belongs to each worker’s job progression. Paying an employee double helps build their role XP.
These systems do not level each other. For cleaner restocking, check that employee’s Cleaner role level. Your own Management level does not meet that requirement.
Match cleaner settings to the worker’s level
| Task | Requirement and setting |
|---|---|
| Restock warehouse goods onto the shop floor | Cleaner level 2. Enable restocking for that employee and set its urgency. |
| Carry containers to gather multiple items | Cleaner level 5. Enable container carrying for that employee. Set how many baskets to leave for customers. |
| Limit the work area | Choose Everywhere, Outside, Shop Floor, or Warehouse. This limits which items the cleaner considers. |
Clean-Up Station requires an active Cleaner staff member. Use this crafting station option to have cleaners organize items sitting on top of it. Otherwise, they leave those items for your crafting.
Give warehouse stock permission to move
On warehouse pallets, Restock From Here is the v1.2.11 permission for supplying the shop floor. Enable it for sale stock; disable it on pallets holding your crafting reserve. Also check Off-Limits: cleaners ignore shelves, pallets, and storage objects with that setting.
If stocked pallets are being ignored, check the employee’s Cleaner level and restocking setting, then the pallet permission and work area. A role unlock and a storage permission handle different parts of the job. Check both before adding another survivor to the payroll.
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