When an NPC is assigned an activity, and they report “finished all available work” but has done nothing, there is usually a good reason, but yes im working on ways to feedback this info to the playaer without completely filling up the message log with NPC spam.
It would be that a) they dont have the skills or b) they dont have the tools or c)there is no zone to specify the activity or d)its too dark or theres something blocking the route to the work spot.
As for not opening tent flaps, could you log an issue on the github?https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/issues
seems like that could be an easy fix.