Notifications and Alerts

Learn how to manage and respond to notifications and alerts in the Shifts platform to stay informed about important updates and changes to your schedule.

Notification Center Overview

The Notification Center is your central hub for all system messages and alerts:

1. Access the Notification Center by clicking the bell icon in the top navigation bar
2. Unread notifications are indicated by a red dot and number
3. New notifications appear at the top of the list
4. Notifications are color-coded by type:
   • Blue: Informational (system updates, announcements)
   • Green: Positive (approved requests, confirmations)
   • Yellow: Attention needed (pending approvals, reminders)
   • Red: Urgent (declined requests, issues requiring immediate attention)
     

Types of Notifications

Schedule Notifications

• New Shift Assignment: When you’re added to a shift
• Schedule Change: When your schedule is modified
• Shift Reminder: Before your shift starts
• Upcoming Schedule: Weekly overview of your shifts
• Schedule Published: When a new schedule period is released
  

Request Notifications

• Time Off Request Status: Updates when your request is approved or declined
• Swap Request: When someone wants to swap shifts with you
• Shift Coverage: When someone needs their shift covered
• Request Expiring: When a request needs your attention before expiring
• Request Expired: When a request has expired without action
  

Time & Attendance Notifications

• Clock-in Reminder: When it’s time to start your shift
• Clock-out Reminder: When it’s time to end your shift
• Missed Punch: If you forgot to clock in or out
• Approaching Overtime: When you’re close to overtime hours
• Break Due: When it’s time for your scheduled break
  

Taking Action on Notifications

Many notifications are actionable, allowing you to respond directly:

1. Click on the notification to view its details
2. Action buttons appear at the bottom of the notification
3. Common actions include:
   • Approve/Decline requests
   • Confirm receipt
   • View details
   • Respond with a message

Notification History and Management

To manage your notification history:

1. Click “View All” at the bottom of the Notification Center dropdown
2. This takes you to the full Notification History page
3. Use filters to sort notifications by:
   • Date range
   • Type
   • Status (read/unread)
4. Mark notifications as read by clicking the checkmark icon
5. Delete notifications using the trash icon
6. Use “Mark All as Read” to clear all unread indicators
   

Email and Mobile Notifications

In addition to in-app notifications, you may receive:

1. Email notifications: Critical updates sent to your registered email
2. Mobile push notifications: Alerts on your smartphone via the mobile app
3. SMS alerts: Text messages for urgent notifications (if enabled)

Customizing Your Notification Experience

To customize how you receive notifications:

1. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner
2. Select “Profile” and navigate to the “Notifications” tab
3. Configure your preferences for each notification type
4. Choose your preferred delivery methods
5. Set up notification schedules and quiet hours

Related Resources

• Notification Settings and Preferences
• Setting Up Your Profile

This article should be updated when:

1. The notification system interface changes
2. New notification types are added
3. Notification actions or capabilities change
4. The mobile notification experience is updated