Shifts
An App within Teams that allows your “team” to post their attendance schedule to be seen by the entire team.

PRO-TIP:
If you want each member of your Team to add their own shifts – they will need to be an “owner” of the Team.  Otherwise each member can “submit” their own shifts – but an owner will have to approve and publish.

If you want your members to be able to add their own Shifts but you do NOT want them to be an owner of the actual Team… you will want to create a separate Team with the same members so they can all be owners.

Create a new Shift:

1. Open Teams

2. Open the “Shifts” App  (If the Shifts App does not show – click on the “Apps” button at the bottom of your Teams app – and search for Shifts.

3. Open the Shifts App

4. In the top left corner there should be a 3 Line menu button – press it

5. Click New Schedule (bottom left)

6. Every Team you are a manager of will have a purple (not grey) “Create” button next to it.
If the Team you want to add Shifts to doesn’t exist yet – create the Team – then go back to Step 2.

7. Pick the time zone you wish to use for this Shifts (Shifts cannot calculate different time zones in the same app)

8. Each user will have the ability to add shifts they are planning on taking.
Once your entries have been added – make certain to click “Share with Team” in the top right corner.




What’s the benefit of Shifts Vs. the Outlook Calendar that publicly displays a Team members availability?

Shifts is a one-trick-pony  - displaying ONLY who is working today… or next week etc…
It does not get cluttered with appointments or confused with meetings etc…

While it can be detailed as to chunks of time (ie: 10 – noon Bob will be in)
It is probably used best for FULL DAY representation (ie: Bob is working from home on Thursday Oct 10)
or (Jennifer is taking a Sick Day Monday Sept 2)


Recommendation:

Pick colors to represent specific functions.
For example
Green means “working from the office”
Blue means “working from home”
Grey means “Vacation Day”
Black means “Sick Day”

These concepts can make glancing at your Shifts much easier to comprehend.

Here is an example of how the IT Department uses Shifts:






There are no “set rules” – you can run your Shifts the way you like.

If you have questions, feel free to ask John Tate at THQ IT.