How to say which hours you’d prefer#
For: Shift worker You’ll need: Availability mode turned on. See Always-available mode.
Marking yourself available says you can work. Preferred hours say you’d rather. It doesn’t block anything and it isn’t a request anyone has to approve — but when two people could both work a shift, the one who asked for those hours gets the edge.
Add a preferred window#
In the sidebar, go to Planning → Availability → ‘My availability’.
Find the ‘Preferred’ section — Mark the times you would prefer to work. Scheduling favors these times when filling shifts.
Click ‘Create preferred availability’.
Under ‘Days’, tick the weekdays you mean.
Under ‘Time’, set the start and end.
Add ‘Notes’ if you want your manager to know why.
Click ‘Save’.
Want a different time on other days? Add a second entry. There’s no limit.
Why it’s a weekly thing#
Preferred hours are a standing statement — “mornings, please” — so they always repeat weekly. For a one-off:
Can work one particular day? Add a one-time availability instead — How to submit your availability.
Want one particular shift? Look for it in the marketplace — How to browse the shift marketplace.
The same hours across several days show as one row, like Mon, Wed, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Change or remove one#
Open the entry from the ‘Preferred’ section, change the days or the time and click ‘Save’, or click ‘Delete’ to remove it.
Worked example#
You and Ana can both work Saturday 08:00–16:00. You’ve added a preferred window for Saturday 08:00–16:00; Ana hasn’t. Automatic assignment favors you. Preferred hours don’t block Ana from being assigned by hand — they only tip an automatic choice.
Verify it worked#
The window appears under ‘Preferred’ on My availability, listed as weekdays and a time range.