🧩 Overview
Group Shifts is a new enhancement that allows multiple Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to be scheduled and clock into the same shift independently. Previously, when any caregiver clocked out of a shared shift, the shift was automatically marked as "Completed," blocking other DSPs from clocking in. Group Shifts solves this problem by introducing a smarter shift lifecycle that keeps a shift open as long
as it is within its scheduled window—regardless of individual DSP clock-in and clock-out activity.
This update affects both the web dashboard (for agency admins creating shifts) and the caregiver mobile app (for DSPs clocking in and out).
👥 Impacted Users
Agency Admins
Can now designate any shift as a Group Shift directly from the shift creation modal.
Caregivers / DSPs
Can clock into a Group Shift independently, even if another DSP has already clocked out.
Can clock back into the same shift multiple times within the scheduled window.
Customer Success Team
Should be familiar with the new shift lifecycle logic to support agency admin and caregiver questions around shift statuses and time entries.
✨ New Features and Feature Enhancements
Web Dashboard — Shift Creation
A new "Enable Independent Clock-ins" checkbox has been added to the shift creatio modal on the web dashboard.
Default state: Unchecked. Standard shifts are unaffected unless the admin explicitly enables this option.
Behavior: Checking the box does not change any other field on the modal or any UI in the app. Start time, end time, client/staff assignments, and group selection all work exactly as they do today.
Persistence: The Group Shift flag is saved to the shift record and drives the updated clock-in/out logic on the backend.
Caregiver Mobile App — Clock-In / Clock-Out
DSPs assigned to a Group Shift will experience updated clock-in availability logic on the mobile app:
A DSP can clock into a Group Shift at any point within the shift window, even if another DSP has already clocked in and/or out.
A DSP can clock out and clock back in again multiple times within the same Group Shift, as long as the shift is still open.
The clock-in option becomes unavailable once the shift reaches "Completed" status (see shift lifecycle rules below).
No changes to the experience for standard (non-Group) shifts
Backend — Group Shift Lifecycle Logic
The shift status lifecycle has been updated for Group Shifts to prevent premature completion:
Shift Created: The Group Shift flag is persisted on the shift record at creation.
First DSP Clocks In: Shift transitions to "In Progress" (standard behavior)
A DSP Clocks Out (others still in): Shift remains "In Progress." Other DSPs are unaffected.
All DSPs Clocked Out (before scheduled end time): Shift remains "Open" — it does NOT transition to "Completed." Any assigned DSP can still clock back in.
Scheduled End Time Reached (no DSP clocked in): Shift auto-complates.
DSP Still Clocked In Past End Time: Shift stays "In Progress" until that DSP clocks out, then completes.
No DSP Clocks In At All: Shift auto-completes at the scheduled end time.
Time Entry Records
Each individual clock-in/clock-out cycle generates its own distinct time entry record. This ensures:
Accurate pay calculation for each DSP.
Full documentation of all clock-in/out activity within a Group Shift.
Proper association of each time entry to the respective DSP and client(s) for downstream reporting.
✨ Feature Set and Affected Feature Areas
Group Shifts is part of the Shift Management feature area. The following related areas are also touched by this release:
Shift Creation (Web Dashboard): New "Group Shift" checkbox added to the shift creation modal.
Shift Lifecycle / Status Management (Backend): Updated status transition logic for Group Shifts; standard shift behavior is unchanged.
Clock-In / Clock-Out (Mobile App): Updated availability logic for DSPs on Group Shifts.
Time Entries (Backend): Each clock-in/out cycle on a Group Shift generates a separate time entry record.
Pay Calculation (Downstream): Time entry records correctly feed into pay calculation workflows.
🐛 Issues and Bug Fixes
No standalone bug fixes are included in this release. The Group Shifts feature directly resolves the following known pain point:
Previously, when any caregiver clocked out of a group-scheduled shift, the shift transitioned to "Completed," incorrectly blocking remaining DSPs from clocking in. This is resolved by the new Group Shift lifecycle logic.