Start and End Shift Reminders

Start and End Shift Reminders help workers remember to begin and finish their shifts on time. By sending automated SMS, email, or phone call notifications, you reduce the risk of missed check-ins and ensure workers are monitored during the correct hours. This article explains how to view, create, copy, and configure Start/End Shift Reminders in Ok Alone.

What Are Start and End Shift Reminders

• Start Shift Reminder: Sends a notification (SMS, email, or phone call) to a worker—optionally also to their Monitor—if they have not started their shift by a specified time.

• End Shift Reminder: Sends a notification when a worker has not ended their shift by a specified time.

Reminders trigger 5–30 minutes after a scheduled shift start or end time. You choose the delay, and notifications go out via the channel(s) you select.

 

How to View Start/End Shift Reminders

1. Log in to the Ok Alone dashboard at https://my.okalone.net.

2. In the sidebar, click Workers.

3. Find the Worker whose reminders you want to configure and click Edit.

4. Select the Start and End Shift Reminders tab.
   

5. A calendar for the current month displays all existing Start/End shifts for that worker.

How to Add a Start or End Shift

1. In the Start and End Shift Reminders calendar, click the day you want to schedule.

2. A pop-up window appears with fields for:

   • Start Shift Time: Enter the clock time the worker should begin their shift.

   • End Shift Time: Enter the clock time they should end.

3. If you do not need either a start or end reminder on that date, leave the corresponding field blank.

4. Click Save (or Update) to apply.
   

To modify an existing shift:

• Click the date, adjust the time, then click Update.

• To remove a shift entirely, click the date and select Remove from the time dropdown.

 

How to Set Up Multiple Worker Shifts

If a worker follows a repeating schedule—such as Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM—use the Add Multiple Start/End Times feature to save time.

1. In the Start and End Shift Reminders tab, click Add Multiple Start/End Times.
   

2. In the pop-up:

   • Select Date Range: Click the first date (e.g., September 1), then click the last date (e.g., September 30). Use the month arrows at the top of the calendar to navigate if needed.
     

   • Set Shift Time: Choose the shift hour in the “Shift Time” dropdown.

   • Choose Shift Type: Select Start or End.
     

   • Select Weekdays: Tick the checkboxes for the days of the week the worker is scheduled to work (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday).
     

3. Click Update Start/End Times. All selected dates within the range receive the configured Start or End reminders on the chosen weekdays.

Note: To remove any shift within that range, click the date in the main calendar and choose Remove under the time dropdown.

 

Copying Shifts to Workers or Groups

After configuring one worker’s shifts, you can copy them to other workers or entire groups to ensure consistent scheduling.

1. Open the Start and End Shift Reminders tab for the worker whose shifts you want to copy.

2. Click Copy Start/End Shifts to Worker/Groups.
   

3. In the pop-up:

   • Select Workers: Tick the checkboxes next to individual workers.

   • Or Select Groups: Tick the checkbox next to one or more groups.

4. Choose Copy the Shifts to These Workers/Groups, then click Copy.

All selected workers or group members receive identical Start and End shift schedules.

 

Start/End Shift Reminder Settings

These settings apply globally to every worker. To adjust them, click Change Start/End Shift Settings in the Start and End Shift Reminders tab.

1. Delay for Missed Start/End Shift Alert

   • Choose how many minutes after a scheduled shift start or end time the system waits before sending the worker (and optionally the Monitor) a reminder.

   • Recommendation: 5 minutes.

2. Send Start/End Shift Alert to Monitor

   • Check this box if you want the assigned Monitor to receive an alert whenever a worker misses a Start or End shift.

3. Send Worker Reminder Using

   • Select the notification channel for the worker (SMS, email, or phone call).

   • Recommendation: SMS for fastest delivery.

4. Click Save or Update to apply these default settings.
   

 

Feature Management

Start and End Shift Reminders are part of the Communication Plan. If you do not see these options:

1. Go to Settings → Extra Features.

2. Under Communication Plan, ensure Start/End Shift Reminders (or a similar label) is checked.

3. Click Update Your Feature Settings.

   

If you still do not see the menu, contact Ok Alone Support at [e-mail] to verify your account’s feature access.

 

Best Practices

• Plan Shift Reminders in Advance
  Schedule all recurring shifts at the beginning of each month to ensure consistency.

• Use Copy to Groups for Teams
  If multiple workers share the same schedule, set up one worker first, then copy to their group.

• Communicate Reminder Changes
  Inform workers if you adjust the default delay or notification channel so they know when to expect alerts.

• Verify Time zones
  If your account covers multiple regions, ensure each worker’s time zone is correct; otherwise, reminders may trigger at the wrong local time.