---
title: "Draft vs Published Shifts: Visibility, Behavior, and Worker Applications"
url: "https://help.ontraccr.com/en/article/draft-vs-published-shifts-visibility-behavior-and-worker-applications"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-06-26T17:37:44.362Z"
---

# Draft vs Published Shifts: Visibility, Behavior, and Worker Applications

## **🧾 Draft vs Published Shifts: Visibility, Behavior, and Worker Applications**  
 

### 📘 Article Purpose

This article explains the difference between **draft** and **published** shifts in the Field Schedule, including how visibility works, what actions are allowed, and how workers can apply to draft shifts.

* * *

## **🔍 What Is a Draft Shift?**

A **draft shift** is a shift that:

-   Has been created but **not yet published**
-   Is used for **planning, reviewing, or collecting applications**
-   Appears as a **transparent color block** in the schedule

* * *

## **✅ What Is a Published Shift?**

A **published shift** is:

-   Fully visible to assigned users
-   Considered official and ready to execute
-   Displays as a **solid color block**

* * *

## **🎨 Visual Differences**

| Shift Type | Color on Schedule | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Draft | Transparent (any color) | Planning stage |
| Published | Solid (any color) | Finalized and active |

* * *

## **👁️ Who Can See Draft Shifts?**

This depends on permissions:

### In **Roles & Permissions > Schedule**:

-   **View Draft Shifts by Role/Label**
    -   Users only see draft shifts that match their role or skill label
-   **View All Draft Shifts**
    -   Users can see every draft shift, regardless of role or label

🔐 Users with no draft visibility permissions will not see any unassigned drafts.

* * *

## **🙋 Worker Applications to Draft Shifts**

Draft shifts with **Expected User Groups** allow workers to **apply** for shifts from their mobile app.

### How It Works:

1.  Dispatcher creates a draft shift with required labels (e.g., 2 electricians)
2.  Draft appears to users who match the required role or label
3.  Worker taps **Apply** in their app
4.  Their name appears in the shift as a **Pending User**

* * *

## **✅ Confirming or Denying Applicants**

In the **Shift Slider**, under **Pending Users**:

-   Click **Confirm** to assign them to the shift
-   Click **Deny** to reject their application

Once confirmed, the user is moved to the **Assigned Users** section.

* * *

## **🔁 Publishing the Shift**

Once all planning is complete:

-   Open the shift
-   Click **Submit**

🧠 Published shifts notify assigned users (if notifications are enabled).

* * *

## **🧠 Use Cases for Draft Shifts**

| Scenario | Why Use Drafts? |
| --- | --- |
| Subcontractor bidding or interest | Collect applications before confirming |
| Workforce planning | Build shifts before finalizing |
| Scheduling with partial details | Wait to assign users later |