# How to set shift-marketplace rules

**For:** Admin
**You'll need:** Owner or Admin role.

You'll turn the shift marketplace on and set the rules: which kinds of offer are allowed, who qualifies, how far ahead an offer has to be posted, and when a manager has to sign off. The same rules govern manager-posted open shifts and worker-posted give-aways and swaps.

## Open the settings

1. Open the account dropdown (top-right) and click **'Settings'**.
2. In the right column, find the **'Shift marketplace'** section.

## Turn the marketplace on

Tick **'Enable shift marketplace'**. The rest of the settings only matter once this is on.

## Choose which kinds of offer are allowed

- **'Allow open shifts'** — managers can post a vacancy for anyone qualified to claim.
- **'Allow give-aways'** — workers can hand a shift to someone else with nothing in return.
- **'Allow 1:1 swaps'** — workers can trade shifts with each other.
- **'Allow cross-location swaps'** — when off, both shifts must be at the same location. Position and location qualification always applies either way.

## Decide who qualifies

Set **'Eligibility'**:

- **'Role only'** — anyone with the right position at the right location can take the shift.
- **'Role + skills/certifications'** — they must also hold the same skills the original shift requires.

**'Respect leave for all employees'** keeps anyone on confirmed leave out of the candidate pool, including people who are otherwise treated as always available.

## Set the default claim mode

**'Default claim mode'** pre-fills the **'Claim mode'** field when a manager posts an open shift:

- **'Manager picks'** — responses collect and a manager decides. The default.
- **'First come'** — the first eligible responder is awarded the shift straight away.

Whoever posts the shift can override it on the form. See {doc}`/plan-schedules/marketplace/post-an-open-shift`.

## Set the timing rules

- **'Minimum hours before shift'** — how far ahead an offer has to be posted. Workers can't offer a shift starting sooner than this.
- **'Auto-reject minutes before shift start'** — offers no one has taken are automatically rejected this many minutes before the shift begins, so nothing dangles unfilled.

## Set the approval rules

- **'Require manager approval'** — when on, a manager signs off before a give-away or swap takes effect.
- **'Approval cutoff (hours before shift)'** — optional. When set, only offers starting within this many hours need approval; ones further out are awarded automatically. Leave blank to always require approval. This only applies when approval is on.

## Set the overtime rule

**'Overtime behavior'** decides what happens when an award would push the receiving worker over their work-rule limits:

- **'Warn only — manager decides'** — flag it, but allow it.
- **'Block application'** — stop the worker from responding.
- **'Block approval'** — let them respond, but block the award.

## Save

Click **'Save'**.

## Verify it worked

Open a worker's upcoming shift — the **'Offer for swap'** button now appears (when the shift is far enough out), managers get **'Post open shift'** on the shift form, and **'Shift marketplace'** and **'Manage marketplace'** show under the Planning menu.

## Related

- {doc}`/for-shift-workers/offer-a-shift`
- {doc}`/plan-schedules/marketplace/index`
- {doc}`/set-up-your-company/people/index`