SOURCE: Vacation Tracker TITLE: User Training 0: What You Do as a User (Slack) URL: https://vacationtracker.io/knowledge-base/user-training-slack-what-you-do-as-a-user/ LANG: en PUBLISHED: 2026-10-23 UPDATED: 2026-10-23 READING: 3 min SUMMARY: Start here: what you can do in Vacation Tracker on Slack, where your leave requests go, and where to find everything. # User Training 0: What You Do as a User (Slack) # User Training 0: What You Do as a User (Slack) Vacation Tracker is where you request time off, check your balance and see who's away. This training covers the essentials in 9 short articles. Start here. ## What You Can Do - Request leave: in Slack with /vacation, or in the dashboard. - Check your balance: how much leave you have, have used and have left. - Change or cancel leave: before or after it's approved. - Get answers: ask the Vacation Tracker bot in Slack about your balance, who's off or holidays. - See who's off: your team's leave and upcoming holidays. ## Who Approves Your Leave Your requests go to the Approver(s) of your Department. You'll find their names on your Dashboard under Quick Stats and on your profile under Approvers. Some leave types are approved automatically. ## Find Your Way Around the Dashboard Open the dashboard at app.vacationtracker.io, signing in with Slack. The left-hand menu has: - Request Leave at the top. - Dashboard: your balance, upcoming leave, team availability and upcoming holidays. - Calendar and Wallchart: who's off and when. Your Administrator decides whether you see the Wallchart. - Holidays: the public holidays for your Location. - My Profile: your details, leave quotas and all your requests. - Integrations: connect an AI assistant to Vacation Tracker. Click your name at the bottom of the menu for Account Settings, your language and color theme, and Log out. ![Dashboard for a User with the left-hand menu, balance card and Upcoming Leaves](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/user_training_email_only_what_you_do_as_a_user_1_1cf3a9fd36_1e88a0508e.png) ## In Slack Type /vacation to request leave, check My status or open See more options. Vacation Tracker also messages you in the Vacation Tracker app in your direct messages when your request is answered. ![Vacation Tracker app in Slack with the /vacation reply](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/user_training_slack_what_you_do_as_a_user_2_fb42e03590_75d63579a9.png) ## Use Vacation Tracker From an AI Assistant In the left-hand menu, click Integrations, then MCP. Copy the Server address and add it to Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini or another AI assistant. It opens a Vacation Tracker sign-in, so no keys are needed. Then ask about your balance, check who's off or request time off from your assistant. It acts as you, so it can never see or change more than you can. ![MCP page for a User with the Server address, the list of assistants and You are a user](https://cms.vacationtracker.io/uploads/user_training_email_only_use_vacation_tracker_from_an_ai_assistant_1_5610131940_453a26bd8b.png) ## The Training Path Each article covers one job. Follow them in order the first time. - Request Leave in Slack: with /vacation. - Request Leave in the Dashboard: and check your balance first. - Check Your Leave Balance and History: and every request you've made. - Change or Cancel Your Leave: when plans change. - Know When Your Leave Is Approved or Denied in Slack: what Slack tells you at each step. - See Who's Off and Upcoming Holidays: before you plan your time off. - Ask the Vacation Tracker Bot in Plain Language in Slack: ask questions by chatting. - Set Up Calendar Sync, Out-of-Office and Notifications: calendar, out-of-office and emails. ## Common Questions Why can't I see some menu items?Your Administrator decides which features each role can see. If you need something that isn't in your menu, ask them. Who do I ask about my leave rules?Your Administrator or Location Admin sets your leave types, quotas and holidays. Your Approver answers your requests. ### What's Next? User Training 1: Request Leave in Slack (https://vacationtracker.io/knowledge-base/user-training-slack-request-leave/) User Training 2: Request Leave in the Dashboard (Slack) (https://vacationtracker.io/knowledge-base/user-training-slack-request-leave-in-the-dashboard/) Guide: Administrator vs Location Admin vs Approver vs User (https://vacationtracker.io/knowledge-base/guide-administrator-vs-location-admin-vs-approver-vs-user/) Need help? Contact our Support team via email (mailto:hello@vacationtracker.io) or chat (#), Monday to Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM EST.