> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://absentify.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Group absence requests

> Create group absence requests in absentify to schedule company shutdowns or department closures, and resolve conflicts with existing employee absences.

As a manager, you can create absence requests for all employees in a department using the **Group request** feature. This allows you to quickly schedule team-wide absences while automatically resolving conflicts with individual schedules.

<iframe src="https://demo.arcade.software/k3Ie6h2WZTS8wbOwEZa8?embed&embed_mobile=inline&embed_desktop=inline&show_copy_link=false" title="Overview - absentify" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen allow="clipboard-write" className="responsive-iframe" />

### Accessing the group request feature

To access the Group request option:

1. Navigate to the **Overview** page.
2. Locate the **Create request** button in the top-right corner.
3. Select the **right side of the button** (the dropdown arrow) to open the submenu.
4. From the submenu, select **Group request**.

<Info>
  **Notes**:

  * The **Group request** feature is only available on the **Essentials plan** or higher.
  * Recurring absences are not supported with the **group request** feature. Only single, one-time absences can be created using this option.
</Info>

### Creating a group request

Follow these steps to create a group absence request:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select a department">
    In the Group request dialog, select the department for which you want to schedule absences. You can only select departments assigned to you.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Define absence details">
    Fill out the absence details:

    * **Leave type**: Select the type of leave (e.g., vacation, training).
    * **Duration**: Specify the start and end dates for the absence.
    * **Reason (optional)**: Provide a reason for the absence, if required by your organization.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Override maximum absence limit (optional)">
    * If needed, enable the **Override maximum absence limit** toggle to bypass the configured absence limits for the selected department.
    * If the toggle remains deactivated, absentify submits the request only for users up to the defined limit. Any additional users are excluded once the maximum is reached.

    <Info>
      **Important:** This override only applies to requests you create for others. Absence requests for yourself will still follow the standard validation rules.
      Use this option with care, as it may cause departments to exceed their configured absence limits.
    </Info>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit the request">
    Once all details are complete, select **Create group request**. Absences will be added to each employee’s calendar for the specified period.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review conflicts">
    After submission, the system automatically detects employees with existing absences during the selected timeframe. absentify displays a list of conflicts, showing:

    * Employee name
    * Existing absence type
    * Conflict dates

    Employees with conflicts will not have a new absence created for them, and their existing absences will remain unchanged.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  Employees with conflicting absences will not have a new absence created for them. absentify shows a summary of skipped employees after submission.
</Info>

### Public holidays in the selection

When you create a group request, absentify checks each member's assigned public holiday calendar against the selected date range. If one or more members have a public holiday within the period, an informational banner appears. It shows how many of the department's members are affected — for example, **This selection includes public holidays for 3 of 8 members.** Once you have chosen a leave type, the banner also states whether those days are **Deductible** or carry **No deduction from allowance**. Public holidays only count against a member's allowance when the leave type is set to both use an allowance and ignore public holidays.

Select **View details** to open a read-only dialog listing each unique holiday date and name across the department's calendars, along with whether the selected leave type deducts these days from allowance. When several members share the same holiday date across different calendars, it is listed only once.

### Managing group requests

After creating a group request:

* **View requests**: Absences will appear in the team calendar and individual employee calendars.
* **Edit or cancel requests**: To make changes, navigate to the individual employee’s calendar or contact your HR administrator.

<Warning>
  Ensure that leave policies and allowances are considered before creating group requests to avoid exceeding quotas or conflicting with company rules.
</Warning>

### Tip: using group requests for blockout dates

If you need to enforce blockout dates (critical business periods during which no absences should occur), you can use the Group request feature as a workaround:

1. **Create a custom leave type**:

   * Navigate to the **Leave types** section in the admin dashboard.
   * Select **Create new leave type**.
   * Configure the leave type with the following settings:
     * **Name:** `Blockout date`.
     * **Enable Calendar Synchronization:** `Synchronization disabled`.
     * **Deduct from allowance:** Leave this toggle off.
     * **Duration unit:** `Days`.
     * **Requires approval:** Leave this toggle off.
     * **Reason mandatory:** Leave this toggle off.
     * **Include in maximum absent:** Leave this toggle off.
     * **Privacy:** Leave this toggle off.

   <Info>
     Ensure that the leave type is named clearly as `Blockout date` for easy identification.
   </Info>

2. **Assign blockout dates using Group requests**:
   * Use the **Group request** feature to apply the `Blockout date` leave type to all employees or specific departments.
   * Specify the dates for the blockout period.
   * Save the request to ensure the blockout dates appear on employee calendars.

<Info>
  Blockout dates prevent overlapping absence requests and ensure scheduling integrity during critical periods. They do not deduct from employees’ allowances or require approval.
</Info>

By leveraging Group requests, you can effectively manage team absences while simulating blockout periods when needed.

### Blockout dates feature

A dedicated **Blockout dates** feature is already planned on our roadmap. By upvoting this feature, you can help prioritize its development. Additionally, if you upvote the request, you will receive a notification when it moves into development and becomes available.

📢 **Vote for the Blockout dates feature here:** [Feedback Board](https://feedback.absentify.com/roadmap/blockoutdates)