This article is for users with System Administrator access. It explains how to enable Messaging and manage permissions for your team members.  

Note: For customers with more than 150 team members, Messaging will be OFF by default. For customers with fewer than 150 team members, Messaging has automatically been switched ON.

• Access Messaging settings
• Turn Messaging on
• Turn Shift status on
• Configure team member permissions
• Deputy Enterprise permissions

Access Messaging settings 

You can adjust Messaging settings in the Web App at any time. 

Click your name in the top-right corner, then select Business Settings from the drop-down menu.

In Business Settings, click on the Communications tab. This is where you can update settings for the News Feed and Messaging features in Deputy. 

Turn Messaging on

In Messaging settings, look for the toggle switch on the right and turn it ON. You can switch Messaging OFF / ON at any time via Business Settings. 

Note: Messaging is automatically turned on for customers with less than 150 team members.

Below this, you'll see four permission setting fields. Messaging permissions in Deputy help you control who can use Messaging, who can message outside of their location, and who can create and manage group chats. 

If you want to continue with the default permission settings, click Save now. 

Alternatively, if you want to customize permissions for your team members, go to the next section of this article. 

Turn Shift status on

Shift status allows you see your team’s availability in real time in when you're in Messaging. These are turned off by default, but System Administrators can switch them on or off anytime.

Find Shift status on the Communications tab in Business Settings and click the toggle to switch it ON, then click Save. You can return to this page at any time to disable/enable shift status indicators. 

Note: To use status-based @mentions like @onshift, this setting needs to be turned ON.

Configure team member permissions

System Administrators can manage how Messaging works for different types of team members. This can be helpful if you want to control who can start new group chats, for example, to keep the number of chat threads manageable.

In Messaging settings, you'll see four (4) required permissions fields. 

To add or remove permission levels, use the drop-down and tick boxes next to the relevant access level. 

1. Who can access Messaging? Select which roles can use Messaging in your business. By default, all roles (System Administrators, Location Managers, Supervisors, Advisors and Employees) can access it, including any custom roles you might have created. 
 

2. Who can start a conversation with team members outside their location? Select which roles can message team members from other locations. By default, it’s turned on for everyone, but you can restrict it to limit communication to within the same location.
 

3. Who can create group chats? Select which access levels can create new group chats.
 

4. Who can manage group chats? Select who can add or remove members from existing group chats.

These permissions are covered in more detail in the Permissions & Controls for Messaging help article.
 

Click Save at the top of the page. 

Messaging will now be active for your team. Location-based channels will be automatically set up based on each team member’s location in Deputy.

Note: When updating Messaging permissions, it may take a couple minutes for the changes to apply and take full effect.
 

Deputy Enterprise permissions

If you're a Deputy Enterprise user, you can configure permissions by going to Enterprise > Access Levels and Permissions. Visit our our article on Enterprise - Communications Permissions.

Helpful resources

• Permissions & Controls for Messaging
• Using Messaging in the web app
• Using Messaging in the mobile app