How to handle requests during the absence of an agent?

Question

Hello Community!

Do you have any suggestions about how to handle requests assigned to agents that are currently absent because of sick leave or holidays, etc.?

Plain and simple question :)  Now we have a list of issues assigned to agent A. He's work during the absence is handled by agent B, but is there any convenient way to do it?

Changing Assignee is pointless I guess, because we cannot revert it back after agent A will be back...

Any clues? :)

Krystian Mularczyk · Answer

Jack, thank you for your propositions.

I guess it does not solve our issue. We have a quite big turnover on issues, so we're looking for a solution that would generate notifications for the agent that replaces PTO agent.

In this case, there would be no difference between those propositions and a method where you instruct agent B to take care of all agent A's issues.

That's interesting that there is no OOTB solution for such a normal life situation in SD environment :)

Krystian Mularczyk · Answer

Thank you Susan!

I will take look, but we are looking for any good OOTB solution/method. I guess our issue should be quite common and there is nothing fancy about it. :)

Jack Brickey · Answer

OOTB Options:

* create a status that the agent would transition his/her issues into when on PTO, e.g. PTO. Then create a queue for PTO and instruct your available agents to monitor and work. Of course on return the agent should move back to In Progress.
* create a queue for unassigned and have the agents move any issues in their queue to unassigned and have the available agents keep the unassigned queue in check. agent returns he/she should take them back

In reality I expect not all issues would need to be handled while they are out, e.g. low priority issues.