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Updating your availability

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How can I update my availability?

Your availability is a powerful tool. It lets your manager know when you’re free to work, which makes it much easier for them to plan shifts and send you offers.

In foundU, you have two types of availability: Ongoing and Once-off. In this article, we'll walk you through how to update both types of availability. 

For further reading on the differences between Ongoing and once-off Availability, please read more in Availability in foundU. 

Updating your availability

The first step to using Availability is figuring out where it's located in your app. All updates and requests related to availability are handled from this one convenient spot. 
 

To locate your current availability: 

  1. From your home page, there are a few different ways to get to your Availability page:

    • Using the Quick Menu at the bottom of your screen: Quick Menu > Time Off > Availability.
    • Using the Main Menu at the top of your screen: Main Menu > Time Off > Availability.

    • Select the Update Availability button. 

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      Note: The Update Availability button will only show if availability is your main way of informing your employer when you can work. If your workplace uses leave instead, you’ll see a leave option instead. 
  2. Next, select the Change Availability button. 
  3. Then, the relevant availability type:
    • Ongoing - Use this option to set up your regular availability going forward. This will stay in place until your next update.
    • Once off - Use this option to request specific days off. Once your requests are submitted, they'll be sent to your manager for approval.
  4. Navigate to the relevant section below for the next steps. 

 

Ongoing availability

In this section, we'll explore how to update your Ongoing Availability. This involves setting a recurring weekly schedule that informs your manager of when you are free to work, making it easier for you to be assigned shifts. 

Warning: If you're making several availability updates, please start with the most recent change. After you update, all dates before that change will be greyed out and unselectable. 


To update your Ongoing Availability: 

  1. Select the date the change is to start.
  2. Select the relevant day(s).
  3. For those days, select one of the following:
    • Unavailable - Not available to work for the entire day.
    • Available - Available to work for the entire day.
    • Partial - Add the hours within the day you are unavailable to work, e.g., 9 am- 12 pm.

      • You can also add additional time spans for the same day. To do this, select +Add another time span, then enter the hours for the new time span. 

        Ongoing Avail1.png

  4. For any additional days, select +Set other days and repeat the previous steps.
  5. Review your changes; these details are directly above the Update Ongoing Availability button.
    • Changes that inform you are unavailable are displayed in red.
    • Changes that inform you are available are displayed in green.
    • Partial days will be displayed in red and green, highlighting the relevant periods. 
  6. To update, select Update Ongoing Availability. 

Ongoing Avail.png

 

Once off availability

In this section, we'll look at how to make a Once off Availability request. This works similarly to asking for leave, where you indicate specific days you want off. Your manager will then review your request. 

Note: You can send an availability request for multiple weeks at a time (e.g. if you're planning to be away for two weeks). 


To submit a Once off Availability request:

  1. Select the start and end dates for your request period. 
  2. Select the relevant day(s).
  3. For those days, select one of the following:
    • Unavailable - Not available to work for the entire day.
    • Available - Available to work for the entire day.
    • Partial - Add the hours within the day you are unavailable to work, e.g., 9 am- 12 pm.

      • You can also add additional time spans for the same day. To do this, select +Add another time span then and the hours for the new time span. 

        Once off2.png

  4. Provide a reason for your availability request. 
  5. Review your changes; these details are directly above the Submit Availability Request button.
    • Changes that inform you are unavailable are displayed in red.
    • Changes that inform you are available are displayed in green.
    • Partial days will be displayed in red and green, highlighting the relevant periods. 
  6. To send your request, select Submit Availability Request.

Your manager will then receive a notification so they can review the availability request. You will be informed of the outcome via email or SMS. 

Once off1.png

 

You can check your requests and see a history of your Once off Availability in the Availability Requests section on the Availability page. Each request will have one of 3 statuses:

  •  
    • Pending - The request is awaiting manager review. 
    • Approved - The request has been accepted.  
    • Declined - The request was unsuccessful. 

If you’d like, you can update any of your upcoming Availability Requests that you’ve submitted, regardless of their current status. Once you make your edits, your request will be sent back to your manager for review, and its status will change to pending. 

Contact: If you’re having trouble setting your availability, please ask your manager; they can submit it on your behalf. Please be aware that you cannot edit these requests. 

 

To edit a Once Off Availability request: 

  1. From your home page, navigate to the quick menu > Time Off > Availability > Availability Requests. 
  2. Locate the relevant Availability Requests and select the edit icon (pencil). 

  3. Update your Availability Request.

    Note: If you need to make significant changes to your availability request, it might be easier to delete your current request (using the bin icon) and submit a new one instead. 
  4. To save, select Save Changes. 

Your manager will then receive a notification so they can review the availability request. You'll be informed of the outcome via email or SMS. 

Edit Avail1.gif

 

FAQs

To view our most common leave FAQs, please refer to our 'FAQs - My Leave & Time Off' guide here. 
 

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