Slack Basics for Field Staff

WHY WE USE SLACK
Slack is how the field team and the office stay connected during the day. You only need to know three places: #general, your #ct channel, and Direct Messages. Each one has a different job.

#GENERAL: COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS
#general is where the office posts announcements for the whole company. A post here notifies everyone at BAHC.
– Read it: schedule changes, company news, reminders, and celebrations are posted here.
– Check it every day, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss anything.
– Don’t use it to ask about your jobs, your schedule, or a client. Those questions go in your #ct channel.

YOUR #CT CHANNEL: YOUR MAIN LINE TO THE OFFICE
Your #ct channel is your main channel, and it is the fastest way to get help. It is named after you (for example, #ct-maria). Only you and the office staff are in it.

Use your #ct channel for:
– Questions about your schedule or jobs
– Running late, lockouts, or trouble getting into a home
– Supplies, equipment, or car issues
– Anything unusual at a client’s home (damage, pets, special requests)
– Photos the office needs to see
– Pay, time off, or HR questions

Why here and not a DM? Everyone in the office can see your channel. Whoever is free answers you first, so you get help faster.

DIRECT MESSAGES (DMs): ONLY FOR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Use a DM only for highly confidential information. Everything else, including pay, time off, and HR questions, goes in your #ct channel.

OK to send by DM:
– Highly confidential personal matters
– A serious concern about a coworker

NOT OK to send by DM:
– Asking for favors
– Trying to get around company policy or keep something hidden from the office
– Schedule questions, running late, or job issues
– Client, home access, or supply problems
– Pay, time off, or HR questions (use your #ct channel)

Not sure if it’s highly confidential? Then it isn’t. Post it in your #ct channel.

QUICK REFERENCE: WHERE DOES MY MESSAGE GO?
– Company news or reminders from the office: #general (read only)
– Running late or locked out: your #ct channel
– Question about a job or my schedule: your #ct channel
– Pay, time off, or HR question: your #ct channel
– Need supplies or equipment: your #ct channel
– Something wrong at a client’s home: your #ct channel
– Highly confidential matter only: Direct Message

WHEN IN DOUBT, POST IN YOUR #CT CHANNEL.