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How to manage shift confirmations in rostering software

Sean Wyse By Sean Wyse Updated 17 February 2026 3 min read
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This article explains how to enable and use shift confirmations in RosterElf. Shift confirmations allow you to require staff to confirm that they can work a scheduled shift before it starts. This helps reduce no-shows, improves accountability, and gives managers better visibility over which shifts are locked in. When confirmations are enabled, staff are prompted to accept or confirm their shifts within a set time frame.

Using shift confirmations is especially useful for businesses that manage changing rosters, casual staff, or last-minute updates. You can choose to apply confirmations to all shifts automatically or control them on a per-shift basis. You can also set a cut-off time, which defines how long staff have to confirm their shifts before the confirmation window closes. This ensures clarity for both managers and staff ahead of time.

In this guide, you will learn how to enable shift confirmations from the roster settings and how to apply confirmations to individual shifts when required. Each section follows a clear, step-by-step format so you can confidently configure confirmations to suit your business needs. Setting this up correctly helps improve attendance, communication, and overall roster reliability.

1. How to enable shift confirmations in rostering software

This section explains how to enable shift confirmations from the roster settings in RosterElf. Enabling confirmations allows you to decide whether all shifts require confirmation by default or whether confirmations are applied only to selected shifts. You can also set a confirmation cut-off time so staff know exactly when they must respond by.

Configuring these settings correctly helps prevent confusion and ensures your expectations are clear before shifts begin. It also reduces last-minute changes by giving managers early insight into unconfirmed shifts. Follow the steps below to enable shift confirmations and apply them to your account.

1.1 Turn on shift confirmations and set cut-off times

1.1.1 Open RosterElf.

Screenshot of RosterElf dashboard showing main navigation menu

1.1.2 Select Roster tab.

Screenshot showing Roster tab highlighted in RosterElf top navigation

1.1.3 Click Settings.

Screenshot of Settings button location in RosterElf roster view

1.1.4 Enable shift confirmations for all shifts or choose per shift.

Screenshot of shift confirmation toggle switch in RosterElf roster settings panel

1.1.5 Set the confirmation cut-off time.

Screenshot showing shift confirmation cut-off time selector in RosterElf settings

1.1.6 Click Save.

Screenshot showing Save button location in RosterElf roster settings

2. Apply shift confirmations per shift in rostering software

This section explains how to apply shift confirmations on individual shifts when per-shift confirmations are enabled. This option gives you flexibility to require confirmations only for certain shifts, such as high-risk, short-staffed, or last-minute shifts. It is useful when not every shift needs confirmation.

Once enabled, you can choose which shifts require confirmation directly during shift creation. This ensures confirmations are only requested when needed, while still maintaining control and visibility. Follow the steps below to apply shift confirmations to individual shifts on your roster.

2.1 Add shift confirmations to individual shifts

2.1.1 Go to Roster.

Screenshot of RosterElf calendar view showing roster tab navigation

2.1.2 Add a new shift.

Screenshot showing add new shift button in RosterElf roster calendar

2.1.3 Enter the shift details.

Screenshot of shift creation form with staff, position and time fields in RosterElf

2.1.4 Tick Shift confirmation.

Screenshot showing shift confirmation checkbox highlighted in RosterElf shift creation form

2.1.5 Click Save as draft or Publish.

Frequently asked questions

1. What are shift confirmations in RosterElf?

Shift confirmations in RosterElf require staff to confirm that they can work a scheduled shift before it starts. This helps reduce no-shows, improves accountability, and gives managers clearer visibility over which shifts are locked in.

2. How do I enable shift confirmations in RosterElf?

You can enable shift confirmations from the roster settings in RosterElf. Once enabled, you can apply confirmations to all shifts by default or choose to apply them on a per-shift basis. You can also set a confirmation cut-off time.

3. Can I require shift confirmations for only some shifts?

Yes. If you enable per-shift confirmations, you can choose which individual shifts require confirmation. This is useful for high-risk, short-staffed, or last-minute shifts where attendance certainty is important.

4. What is a shift confirmation cut-off time?

The shift confirmation cut-off time defines how long staff have to confirm their shift before the confirmation window closes. This ensures managers know in advance whether a shift is confirmed and can take action if needed.

5. What happens if a staff member does not confirm their shift?

If a staff member does not confirm their shift before the cut-off time, the shift remains unconfirmed. This gives managers early visibility so they can follow up, adjust the roster, or arrange cover before the shift starts.

6. How do I know if a shift is confirmed?

When a staff member confirms their shift, it will appear in the roster with a green banner in the top right hand corner of the shift in the roster.

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