Blocking Time & Breaks

Block time slots to prevent bookings during breaks, meetings, or personal time.

Creating a Time Block

Method 1: Click on Time Slot

1. Click on any empty time slot in the calendar
2. A context menu appears - select Add blocked time
3. The booking modal opens to the Block Time tab
4. Configure your block and click Save

Method 2: From Booking Modal

1. Click + New Appointment or drag-to-select
2. Switch to the Block Time tab
3. Select the staff member(s)
4. Choose date and time range
5. Add a title (optional)
6. Click Save

Block Types

Choose from predefined types:

• Custom - General unavailability with custom title
• Meeting - Staff meetings, team syncs
• Cleaning - Room cleaning, setup time
• Training - Staff training sessions

Multi-Staff Selection

Block time for multiple staff at once:

• Select all - Block for entire team
• Individual selection - Choose specific staff members

Online Booking Control

The Online booking allowed toggle controls customer booking:

• OFF (default) - Customers cannot book online during this time
• ON - Customers can still book online (useful for internal blocks that don't affect availability)

Repeat Options

Set up recurring blocks:

• No repeat - One-time block
• Daily - Every day
• Weekly - Same day each week
• Monthly - Same date each month

Viewing Blocked Time

Blocked time appears on the calendar as:

• Square corners (no rounded edges)
• Gray diagonal stripes pattern
• Shows the title you provided
• Distinct from regular appointments

Use case scenarios

Scenario 1: Lunch break protection

The salon's stylists keep getting back-to-back bookings without a chance to eat. The manager creates a recurring weekday "Lunch" block from 12:30 to 13:30 across all stylists. Online booking can't land in that window, the team eats peacefully.

Scenario 2: Team meeting

The manager schedules a team meeting Friday 17:00-18:00. She creates a block titled "Team meeting" with multi-staff selection (everyone). The calendar shows it across every column, online booking is closed for that hour.

Scenario 3: Public holiday closure

Christmas Eve, the salon is closed. The manager creates a block from 00:00 to 23:59, multi-staff (all), title "Closed for Christmas Eve". No online bookings can land. The salon's offline status is clear.

Scenario 4: Personal time off

A stylist has a doctor's appointment Tuesday 11:00-13:00. She (or the manager) blocks just her column for those 2 hours, title "Doctor". Other staff still take bookings; she doesn't.

Scenario 5: Cleaning slot

The salon does deep cleaning every Wednesday 18:00-19:00. Recurring weekly block, title "Deep clean". Customers can't book that hour, the team has time to maintain the space.

Tips

• Click on time slots for quick adds: drag-to-select works for blocks too, the modal opens on the Block tab.
• Use multi-staff selection for team-wide events: meetings, holidays, training. One block covers everyone.
• Keep "Online booking allowed" OFF: that's the whole point of a block. Only turn it on for purely internal blocks (e.g. admin time that doesn't affect customer-facing availability).
• Block lunch breaks proactively: it's harder to undo a booked appointment than to prevent one.
• Mark vacations and holidays in advance: customers will try to book on Christmas Day. Save yourself the awkward call.