SOURCE:    Vacation Tracker
TITLE:     Approver Training 1: Approve or Deny Leave Requests in Slack
URL:       https://vacationtracker.io/knowledge-base/approver-training-approve-or-deny-leave-requests-in-slack/
LANG:      en
PUBLISHED: 2026-10-23
UPDATED:   2026-10-23
READING:   2 min
SUMMARY:   Leave requests reach you as a Slack message from the Vacation Tracker app. See what it shows and how to approve or deny right there.

# Approver Training 1: Approve or Deny Leave Requests in Slack

# Approver Training 1: Approve or Deny Leave Requests in Slack

When someone in your Department requests leave, the Vacation Tracker app sends you a direct message in Slack. You can answer right there.

## What the Message Shows

The message starts with Hello, @Name has submitted the following leave request: and shows:

- Whether anyone else from the Department is away on those dates.

- Leave type, Date(s) and Reason.

- How much leave is requested and how much is left for the current year.

- Open Calendar: opens the dashboard Calendar for that Department and those dates.

![Vacation Tracker app message in Slack with Approve, Deny and Deny with Reason buttons](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/approver_training_approve_or_deny_leave_requests_in_slack_1_ee45219b0c_9dc4997c3b.png)

## Answer the Request

- In Slack, open the Vacation Tracker app from your direct messages.

- Check the dates, the balance and who else is away.

- Click Approve or Deny. Both act straight away.

- To explain a decision, click Deny with Reason, type in Reason for denying and click Deny.

![Reason for denying box in Slack with Close and Deny](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/approver_training_approve_or_deny_leave_requests_in_slack_2_65c4b47f57_5a1c9e672b.png)

## After You Answer

- The message updates to show who answered, for example "@Name has approved the request, no further action is required."

- The updated message moves to the bottom of the chat.

- Slack and the dashboard stay in sync. If you answer in the dashboard, the Slack message updates too.

- You also get a message when someone adds leave for a person on your team.

- If you haven't answered, you get up to three reminders. Snooze on a reminder holds it back for a short time.

![Updated Slack message showing who approved the request](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/approver_training_approve_or_deny_leave_requests_in_slack_3_48f09e4bc8_32097b4797.png)

## Check It Worked

The Slack message shows your answer, and the request is no longer under Waiting on you on your Home page in the dashboard.

## Common Questions

Does Deny ask me to confirm?No. Deny acts straight away. Use Deny with Reason when you want to tell the person why.

What happens if I don't answer?It depends on how your Administrator set up your Department. The request either stays open, or it expires after 7 working days or when the leave end date passes.

Can I do anything else from Slack?Type /vacation to request your own leave, check your status, see who's away or open the dashboard.

### What's Next?

Approver Training 2: Approve or Deny Leave Requests in the Dashboard (Slack) (https://vacationtracker.io/knowledge-base/approver-training-slack-approve-or-deny-leave-requests-in-the-dashboard/)
Approver Training 5: Check Who's Off Before You Approve (Slack) (https://vacationtracker.io/knowledge-base/approver-training-slack-check-whos-off-before-you-approve/)
Approver Training 0: What You Do as an Approver (Slack) (https://vacationtracker.io/knowledge-base/approver-training-slack-what-you-do-as-an-approver/)

Need help?

Contact our Support team via email (mailto:hello@vacationtracker.io) or chat (#), Monday to Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM EST.