The short answer: the six pages cover availability and time off, but not the same parts
Six scheduling apps address staff availability and time-off requests, but their official pages describe different controls. Some pages describe a unified place for managing both types of requests, while others focus on how these items appear during the scheduling process.
When I Work states that you have one place to manage availability, time-off requests, qualifications, and shift preferences so you can focus on running your business, according to When I Work. This description positions availability and time off as part of a broader set of scheduling management tasks handled in a single location.
7shifts describes the employee app as allowing staff to access their schedule from their mobile device to see and swap upcoming shifts, communicate with the team, view their estimated earnings, and submit availability and time-off requests, according to 7shifts. This page emphasizes the mobile submission capability for both availability and time-off requests.
Another 7shifts page states that availability and time off are shown as you build your schedule so you're never second-guessing who can work when, according to 7shifts. This description focuses on the visibility of these requests during the schedule-building process rather than the submission method.
Each publisher’s page defines the scope of availability and time-off management according to its own product structure.
Key takeaways for which scheduling apps let staff set availability and request time off
The six official pages you are reading describe different parts of the same problem. 7shifts and When I Work describe staff entering requests from a phone or the app, but they do not all use the same words for “cannot work” or “taking leave,” and they do not all name the same manager controls.
- Check who enters the request. Homebase says employees can update their availability on the platform. When I Work says employees can submit time-off requests or trade shifts through the app. Connecteam describes users changing their unavailability. The pages do not all use the same label for the action. Deputy states that the schedule is visible at the moment you approve.
- Check the manager controls. The pages name different levers for managers. Connecteam allows you to stop users from changing their unavailability once a date is within a set window. Sling lets admins and managers use day notes to block time-off requests for certain dates. Deputy says you control leave booking windows and set team absence caps to be enforced automatically. When I Work notes that managers can approve or decline requests with a single tap. These are distinct mechanisms: a time window, a date block, an automatic cap, and a manual tap.
How we compared the six product pages and one Oregon state page
We read the official product pages for six scheduling apps and one state page from the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). Our method focused on extracting stated features and rules directly from these sources without adding external interpretations. We looked for specific language about who can enter availability or time-off requests, how those requests appear on schedules, and what controls managers have.
The Oregon BOLI page defines who is covered by its predictive scheduling rules. According to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), people who work for retail, hospitality or food services employers (including chains and integrated enterprises) that employ 500 or more employees worldwide who are primarily engaged in providing retail, hospitality or food services are covered. This scope limits the rule’s application to specific industries and employer sizes. See also Predictive scheduling rules: 7 checks to make.
The same BOLI page states a requirement for advance notice. According to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), your employer must give you a work schedule in writing at least 14 calendar days in advance for the first day on the schedule. This sets a specific timeline for when schedules must be provided. See Work schedule 14-day notice on 4 official pages.
Regarding employee requests, the BOLI page clarifies the employer’s obligation. According to the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), your employer may not retaliate against you for making these requests, but your employer is under no obligation to grant your request. This distinction separates the prohibition on retaliation from any duty to approve changes.
Reference table: what each publisher says about availability and time off
The following table lists the specific controls and definitions stated on each product's official page. Each row cites the page it comes from.
| Publisher | Request type | Stated on page |
|---|---|---|
| Connecteam | Unavailability | Users can stop changing unavailability once a date is within a set window to keep the schedule stable Connecteam |
| Connecteam | Time off | Requests count work days based on set work hours; for example, a request from Thursday to Sunday with 8-hour days counts as 2 work days totaling 16 hours Connecteam |
| Connecteam | Time off accrual | Admins decide if users earn a fixed amount like 20 days per year or earn per hour worked like 1 day for every 150 hours Connecteam |
| Sling | Unavailability | Designed to repeat anywhere from every 1 to 4 weeks, or until you specify an end date Sling |
| Sling | Unavailability | An admin can enable the unavailability approval setting to ensure updates go through management, included in the Premium and Business subscriptions Sling |
| Sling | Time off | Admins and managers can use the day notes feature to block time off requests for certain dates Sling |
| Deputy | Leave | With the schedule visible at the moment you approve, you control leave booking windows and set team absence caps to be enforced automatically Deputy |
| Deputy | Leave | Set how leave grows with length of service, when new starters become eligible for leave, and how far ahead people can book Deputy |
| Homebase | Availability | Employees can update their availability on Homebase and flag availability issues directly in the app Homebase |
| Homebase | Schedule | The whole team sees the schedule the moment it is published and gets real-time updates whenever something changes Homebase |
| When I Work | Availability and time off | You have one place to manage availability, time-off requests, qualifications, and shift preferences When I Work |
| When I Work | Time off | Employees can submit time-off requests through the app, and managers can approve or decline them with a single tap When I Work |
| 7shifts | Availability and time off | Staff can submit availability and time-off requests from their mobile device 7shifts |
| 7shifts | Availability and time off | Availability and time off are shown as you build your schedule so you are never second-guessing who can work when 7shifts |
Review the “Stated on page” column to identify which products explicitly mention blocking dates or approving changes. Note that Sling lists two separate pages for availability and time-off controls, while Deputy focuses on leave management windows. Use this table to verify which features are documented on the official pages before testing the apps.
Availability and time off: how two guides keep them apart
The Sling Help Center page on unavailability and time off distinguishes these two request types by repetition. Unavailability is designed to repeat anywhere from every 1 to 4 weeks, or until you specify an end date, according to Sling.
The “Starting Guide to Time Off | HELP CENTER” page treats time off as a distinct category with its own counting rules. It explains that a request from Thursday to Sunday counts as 2 work days (Thursday and Friday), totaling 16 hours, if work days are Monday–Friday and work hours are 8 per day, according to Connecteam. This example shows how the app calculates time off based on the configured work week, not calendar days. The guide also advises deciding whether users earn a fixed amount of hours or days, such as 20 days per year, or if they are earned for each hour worked, such as 1 day for every 150 hours worked, according to Connecteam. These accrual options define how time off balances build up, separate from the recurring nature of unavailability.
Sling’s page focuses on the recurring aspect of unavailability, while Connecteam’s guide focuses on the accrual and counting mechanics of time off. The Sling repeat pattern of every 1 to 4 weeks applies only to unavailability as stated on that page. The Connecteam counting example of 16 hours for 2 work days applies only to time off as stated on that page.
Manager controls: blocking dates, approving changes and setting windows
Managers need specific controls to prevent schedule chaos. These controls allow you to block dates, review changes, and set limits on absences. The features vary by product, so check the specific settings available in each app.
Blocking time off requests Some apps let you stop staff from requesting time off on specific dates. According to Sling, admins and managers can use the day notes feature to block time off requests for certain dates. This is useful for busy periods when you cannot afford to lose staff.
Approving availability changes Staff might change their unavailability at the last minute. According to Sling, if you're noticing problems with employees editing their availability at the last minute or would like to make sure any updates go through management for better awareness, an admin can enable the unavailability approval setting (included in our Premium and Business subscriptions). This setting makes sure updates go through management.
Stops changes to unavailability Other apps focus on stability near the shift date. According to Connecteam, to keep your schedule stable close to the shift date, you can stop users from changing their unavailability once a date is within a set window. This prevents last-minute edits that could disrupt the schedule.
Leave booking windows and caps Some apps manage leave through rules and limits. According to Deputy, with the schedule visible at the moment you approve, you control leave booking windows and set team absence caps to be enforced automatically. You can also set how leave grows with length of service, when new starters become eligible for leave, and how far ahead people can book, according to Deputy. For more settings, see Time off rules: 8 settings that keep rosters fair.
Simple approval taps Other apps offer quick approval actions. According to When I Work, employees can submit time-off requests or trade shifts through the app, and managers can approve or decline them with a single tap. This makes it easy to review requests on the go.
Check which of these controls are available in the apps you are considering. Look for settings that match your specific needs for blocking dates and approving changes.
Illustrative example: one request checked against the rules
Suppose a shift lead has a team of 20 part-time staff and a Monday to Friday work week with 8-hour days. A worker asks for Thursday to Sunday off. Counting work days only, the request is 2 work days, or 16 hours. Before approving it, the lead checks whether a change window or day-note block applies to those dates and whether team absences are near a cap.
Check your three must-have controls against each page
List your three must-have request controls, such as a way to block busy dates, manager approval of changes, and staff entering requests from a phone. Then open each product's official page named in the reference table and tick which of the three it states.
FAQ: availability and time-off requests in scheduling apps
What is the difference between unavailability and time off?
Sling distinguishes the two by repetition: unavailability uses repeat patterns, as stated on its help pages. Connecteam maintains separate guides for unavailability and time off, treating them as distinct request types.
Can staff change their availability at the last minute?
Connecteam lets you stop users from changing unavailability once a date is within a set window. Sling offers an unavailability approval setting that makes sure updates go through management.
Can I stop time-off requests for a busy date?
Sling’s day notes feature lets admins and managers block time off requests for certain dates. Deputy provides leave booking windows and team absence caps that are enforced automatically when you approve leave. Deputy’s leave booking windows limit how far ahead people can book, and its absence caps limit team absences.
Does the app approve time off for me?
When I Work states that managers can approve or decline time-off requests with a single tap.
Does a scheduling rule say I must grant an availability request?
Oregon’s predictive scheduling page notes that an employer may refuse an availability request but may not retaliate against the employee for making it. This rule applies to covered employers in Oregon, specifically those with at least 500 employees worldwide in retail, hospitality, or food services. This rule covers only the employers described on the Oregon BOLI page.