About this article
This article was created using an automated generation workflow utilizing generative AI. It has been organized and verified against official Microsoft Support Shifts documentation and current Teams licensing information as of September 17, 2026.Verification Status: 📘 Official information confirmed, physical device testing not performed
Microsoft Shifts is an app within Microsoft Teams that allows users to create and publish work shifts, enabling frontline members to check their work schedules, time off, and shift swap requests. Microsoft states that "if you have Teams, Shifts is included."
License positioning
| Item | M365 E3/E5 |
|---|---|
| Shifts app itself | Available within Teams when Teams access is present |
| Teams | Verify the contracted SKU |
| Purview Suite | Does not add Shifts usage rights |
As of 2026, both Enterprise suites that include Teams and those that do not exist. Therefore, do not assume Shifts is usable based solely on the "E3/E5" name; verify the actual assigned Teams service plan.
Try it first: Create a single day's worth in a test team
Instead of immediately replacing the production schedule, create a shift for a small group in a test team.
09:00-17:30 Aさん 10:00-18:30 Bさん
Before publishing, check the differences between administrator drafts and the published shifts visible to members.
Check these points
Whether members can view their work schedules on Teams desktop/mobile
Whether the timezone is correct
Whether unpublished changes are prematurely visible to members
Try changing one thing
Shift just one person's start time by 30 minutes and verify which parts are updated after republishing.
For business use
If Shifts is introduced purely for its appearance as a schedule board, the boundaries between time tracking, payroll, and employment regulations become ambiguous. Determine the following first:
Whether Shifts will be the official authoritative source for work orders or used strictly for display
How to handle duplicate data entry with time and attendance systems
Who approves shift swaps
Where the official entry point for leave requests is located
Team member management during resignation or transfer
How to handle night shifts or shifts spanning multiple days
Items for administrators to verify
Teams license and service plan
Whether Shifts is available via Teams app permission policies
Owner of the target team
Field device and mobile usage policies
Division of responsibility with time and attendance systems
Scope of personal work information visibility
Official information and primary sources
Get started in Shifts: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/teams/shifts/get-started-in-shifts
Microsoft 365 / Teams licensing update: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/news/Microsoft365-Teams-2025
The true value of Shifts lies not in moving Excel work schedules to Teams, but in consolidating the publication, confirmation, and change requests of work schedules into the frontline Teams workflow.
