Can't take your on-call shift? Ask your colleagues on the schedule to cover it. The first colleague to accept takes over your on-call time in that window.

Request cover for your shift

1. Go to Who's on-call and open your schedule.
2. Click the arrow next to Create override and choose Request cover.
3. Check From and To. They're prefilled with your next shift.
4. Optionally, answer Why are you requesting cover?
5. Click Request cover.

Don't see Request cover?

It shows only on schedules where you're on-call now or have a shift coming up. Schedules synced from an external calendar don't offer it.

After you request cover

Better Stack asks your colleagues on the schedule right away by e-mail and in-app notification, where they can accept or decline. Push notifications and direct messages in Slack and Microsoft Teams follow a few minutes apart, and stop once they answer or someone accepts. Colleagues on holiday aren't asked.

Until someone accepts, your schedule shows Your cover request is waiting for an answer. with a Cancel request link. You're notified whenever a colleague accepts or declines.

What happens when a colleague accepts?

They take over only your own on-call time in that window, as an override on the schedule. Teammates' shifts stay as they are.

Request cover from Slack, Microsoft Teams or your phone

• In Slack, type /cover. See Request cover from Slack.
• In Microsoft Teams, mention @Better Stack cover. See Request cover from Microsoft Teams.
• In the Better Stack mobile app, you can request and answer cover too.