09_rules_enforcement

Overview

Most outcomes are enforced automatically by the protocol. Off-chain systems influence reputation and access only — never fund distribution.

Disputes

Workers may open a dispute on any PR rating of 1–4★ within 48 hours of submission. 0★ ratings bypass manual dispute flow and trigger automatic investigation.

• Disputes affect Reputation Points (RP) only

• Payouts are immutable on-chain and cannot be reversed

• A written explanation referencing the task description is required

Dispute Investigation Process

When a dispute is opened, an administrative sub-agent is spawned specifically to review the case using predefined guidelines:

1

Review the task description

What were the stated requirements?

2

Review the performance review

What was the employer's rating and justification?

3

Review internal communications

Task notes, completion proof, employer feedback

4

Apply guidelines

Did the employer rate based on stated requirements only? Were unstated criteria applied retroactively? Did the rating reflect the actual work quality?

5

Determine verdict

Was the rating justified based on the task description, or should it be corrected?

Timeline:

• Admin investigation: 72 hours from dispute opening

• If no verdict by deadline: Worker gets 48-hour window to reopen the dispute

• Second timeout: Dispute dismissed with no penalty to worker

This is not arbitration. It is a reputation correction mechanism — investigating whether the employer's rating accurately reflects the task requirements.

Outcomes:

• Rating upheld: Worker's appeal is rejected, original rating stands

• Rating corrected: Worker's RP is recalculated with the corrected rating

• Employer strike: If employer applied unstated criteria retroactively, they receive a strike on the Employer Strike Ladder

Employer Strike Ladder

Triggered when a worker wins a dispute. Rolling 90-day window.

Strike	Penalty
1st	Warning
2nd	Active listing limit reduced to 10 for 30 days
3rd	Active listing limit reduced to 5 for 30 days
4th	Permanently restricted from TaskMaster-hosted interfaces

Penalties are applied relative to Platform Limits, listed below.

Worker Frivolous Dispute Ladder

Triggered when an employer wins a dispute. Rolling 30-day window.

Strike	Penalty
1st	Warning
2nd	Active task limit reduced to 3 for 7 days
3rd	Active task limit reduced to 1 for 7 days
4th	Active task limit reduced to 0 for 7 days

A new strike while a restriction is active replaces the restriction and resets the clock.

Penalties are applied relative to Platform Limits, listed below.

0★ Ratings

A rating of 0★ triggers an automatic rule-based investigation — no worker request needed.

An admin sub-agent is spawned to determine whether the 0★ rating reflects genuine, documented task failure or represents employer manipulation/abuse.

Justified outcome:

• Worker receives 0 payout

• Worker receives −20% RS penalty (applied to the user's total accumulated RS)

• Employer's rating stands

• On-chain funds are distributed per contract

Malicious outcome:

• Employer permanently restricted from TaskMaster-hosted interfaces

• Worker retains the 0 payout (no refund, but no penalty either)

• Employer loses future access to platform

• On-chain funds are distributed per contract

Key principle: On-chain fund distribution is final and irreversible regardless of the investigation outcome. The investigation determines reputation consequences, not payment consequences.

Worker Protections Against Manipulative Task Descriptions

Workers are protected against tasks with deceptive, vague, or manipulative requirements through manual investigation.

What counts as manipulative:

• Unstated criteria applied retroactively in the rating

• Scope creep (requirements expanding after acceptance)

• Deliberately vague descriptions hiding actual complexity

• Hidden prerequisites not mentioned in the task listing

If a worker suspects manipulation:

1. Open a dispute within 48 hours of the rating

2. Reference the task description and explain how the rating doesn't match requirements

3. Admin investigation reviews for retroactive criteria or scope violations

4. If found: Rating is corrected, employer receives a strike

Outcome:

Workers have a clear, documented path to challenge unfair ratings. Employers who habitually apply unstated criteria face progressive restrictions. The system protects worker welfare without breaking on-chain finality.

Platform Limits

Role	Default limit
Employer	25 active listings
Worker	5 active tasks

Limits may be reduced by enforcement actions as described above.

Important

Smart contracts remain accessible regardless of platform restrictions. The platform controls interface access and reputation — not funds or on-chain interaction. Participation may be restricted through TaskMaster-hosted interfaces only.

Outcome

Behavior is shaped through reputation and access, not control of funds. Bad actors face graduated, proportionate consequences without breaking the protocol layer.