# Can field workers assign themselves to work orders?

> Yes — when the company enables it. Turn on Settings → Scheduling → Allow field workers to self-assign to work orders, and Site Leads and Site Workers get an Assign to Me button on eligible work orders from the Project Search page.

- Product: WorkSkedge
- Section: Scheduling & Dispatch
- Canonical: https://workskedge.com/help/scheduling/let-field-workers-self-assign-to-work-orders
- Updated: 2026-08-29T21:34:24.305643+00:00
- Source: WORK-ORDERS.md — Field Worker Self-Assignment; USERS-AND-ROLES.md — Scheduling Notifications
- Keywords: self-assign, field worker, assign to me, site lead, project search, company setting

## Steps

1. Go to Settings → Scheduling
2. Enable the Allow field workers to self-assign to work orders toggle
3. Field workers open the Project Search page and click Assign to Me on an eligible work order
4. They set the start date, estimated duration, and optionally mark themselves as lead
5. Save — assignment, schedule records, status transition, and notifications happen automatically

## Turn on self-assignment

The feature is gated behind a company-level toggle, off by default:

1. Go to **Settings → Scheduling**.
2. Enable **Allow field workers to self-assign to work orders**.
3. Field workers (Site Leads and Site Workers) now see an **Assign to Me** button on the Project Search page. When the setting is disabled, the button does not appear.

## Which work orders can be self-assigned

| Status | Can self-assign |
|---|---|
| Created | No |
| Ready | Yes |
| Assigned | Yes |
| Active | Yes |
| Pending Approval | No |
| Complete | No |
| Closed | No |

## What the field worker sees

Clicking **Assign to Me** opens a dialog with:

1. **Start date** — defaults to today.
2. **Estimated duration** — days plus hours (defaults to 0 days, 3 hours).
3. **I am the lead on this job** checkbox — records them as the site lead on the work order.

## What happens on save

WorkSkedge handles the whole flow in one step: it validates the worker and the work order status, creates the assignment, creates schedule records for each day in the duration range, sets the site lead if the box was checked, and transitions the work order — Ready → Assigned when the start date is in the future, or Ready → Active when it starts today or earlier. Work orders already Assigned or Active keep their status. Finally, it queues a calendar-invite email to the worker, plus a work-order-scheduled notification on the initial scheduling.

## Screenshots

- Team Schedule board showing employee rows and roles such as Lead Tech, Field Tech and Helper: https://workskedge.com/api/public/help-image/app/team-schedule.webp

## FAQ

### Why don't my field workers see the Assign to Me button?

The company setting is off by default. Enable it under Settings → Scheduling. The button also only appears on work orders in Ready, Assigned, or Active status.

### Which roles can self-assign?

Field workers — employees with the Site Lead or Site Worker app role. Office roles do not get the button.

### Does self-assignment notify anyone?

Yes. The worker receives a calendar-invite email, and a work-order-scheduled notification is sent when the self-assignment is the work order's initial scheduling.

### What status does the work order end up in after self-assignment?

Ready becomes Assigned for a future start date, or Active if the start date is today or earlier. Work orders already Assigned or Active do not change status.