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Requesting a Shift Swap

Updated September 24, 2026

Requesting a Shift Swap

Life happens — sometimes you need to trade a shift with a colleague. The Shift Exchange feature in Attlock lets you offer your shifts to other guards, pick up available shifts, and arrange two-way swaps, all from your phone.

Accessing Shift Swap

Attlock schedule workspace showing upcoming shifts and operational assignments.
Scheduling: review and manage the assigned work before starting the shift.
  1. Tap the More tab at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Tap "Shift Swap" (Arrow Left-Right icon, red).
  3. The Shift Exchange screen opens with the subtitle: "Trade shifts and find coverage."

Understanding the Tabs

The Shift Exchange screen has four tabs:

Market

Browse shifts that other guards have put up for exchange. This is your one-stop shop for finding coverage or picking up extra hours.

  • Suggested Matches (Sparkles icon) — shifts that the system has identified as fitting your schedule and availability. Check these first.
  • Each shift card shows:
    • The guard who offered the shift.
    • A status badge indicating urgency:
      • SWAP (blue) — the guard is looking for a two-way trade.
      • OPEN (green) — anyone can pick this up.
      • URGENT <48H (orange) — the shift starts within 48 hours.
      • CRITICAL <24H (red) — the shift starts within 24 hours. Needs immediate attention.
    • Date, time, and site for the shift.
    • An optional message from the guard explaining why they need coverage.
  • Tap "Pick Up Shift" to claim a one-way pickup, or "Offer Swap" to propose a trade.

My Offers

Shifts you've posted for exchange:

  • Each offer shows its current status: PENDING, APPROVED, REJECTED, or CANCELLED.
  • If another guard has claimed your shift: "Claimed by [Guard Name]" appears on the card.
  • Tap "Cancel Offer" to withdraw a posting that hasn't been claimed yet.

Requests

Swap proposals from other guards directed at you specifically.

  • Review incoming requests and accept or decline them.

History

A log of all your past exchanges — approved swaps, declined requests, and completed pickups.

Creating a New Offer

To put one of your shifts up for exchange:

  1. Tap the "+" button (green) in the bottom right corner.
  2. Select the shift you want to offer from your upcoming schedule.
  3. Choose the offer type:
    • "Pick Up (one-way)" — another guard takes your shift with no obligation for you to take one of theirs.
    • "Swap (two-way)" — you trade shifts with another guard. Both of you work each other's original shift.
  4. Add a reason (optional but helpful — e.g., "Doctor's appointment" or "Family event").
  5. Set the urgency level:
    • Normal — standard request, no rush.
    • Within 48 hours — the shift is coming up soon.
    • Within 24 hours — the shift is imminent and needs immediate coverage.
  6. Choose who can claim the shift:
    • Anyone — all eligible guards at your site can see and claim it.
    • A specific guard — select a particular colleague you've already arranged the swap with.
  7. Tap "Post Offer" to publish it to the exchange board.

Picking Up a Shift

When you want to take on an available shift:

  1. Browse the Market tab and find a shift that works for your schedule.
  2. Review the shift details — make sure the date, time, and site work for you.
  3. Tap "Pick Up Shift" or "Claim."
  4. Depending on your company's configuration, the swap may:
    • Be auto-approved and added to your schedule immediately.
    • Require supervisor approval — you'll see a pending status until your supervisor confirms.
  5. Once approved, the shift appears on your Schedule tab.

Tips

  • Post early — the sooner you list a shift, the more time other guards have to see it and respond. Last-minute postings are harder to fill.
  • Check Suggested Matches first — these shifts are pre-filtered to fit your availability, saving you time browsing.
  • Set urgency appropriately — marking a shift as CRITICAL when it's not urgent reduces the impact of real urgent requests.
  • Add a reason to your offer — other guards and supervisors are more likely to help when they understand the situation.
  • Be reliable — if you pick up a shift, show up for it. Backing out of claimed shifts can affect your reputation with colleagues.
  • Check the Market regularly — if you're looking for extra hours, new offerings pop up frequently.

Related Articles

  • Viewing Your Upcoming Schedule
  • Requesting Time Off
  • Clocking In and Out of Shifts
  • Getting Started with the Guard Mobile App

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