[Cotlet](https://cotlet.dev/index.md) · [Integrations](https://cotlet.dev/integrations.md) · [How it works](https://cotlet.dev/how-it-works.md) · [Use cases](https://cotlet.dev/use-cases.md) · [Security](https://cotlet.dev/security.md) · [For developers](https://cotlet.dev/for-developers.md) · [For automation agencies](https://cotlet.dev/for-agencies.md) · [Blog](https://cotlet.dev/blog.md) · [API docs](https://cotlet.dev/docs.md) · [Help center](https://cotlet.dev/help.md) · [Changelog](https://cotlet.dev/changelog.md) · [Contact](https://cotlet.dev/contact.md) · [Pricing](https://cotlet.dev/pricing.md) · [Sign up](https://cotlet.dev/signup)

# Create a draft shift

> Add a shift to a location as a draft that only managers see. Inputs, cURL, Python and Node.js examples and an example response.

Source: https://cotlet.dev/docs/api/deputy/create_shift

Docs sections: [Get started](https://cotlet.dev/docs.md) · [REST API](https://cotlet.dev/docs/api.md) · [MCP](https://cotlet.dev/docs/mcp.md) · [SDKs & CLI](https://cotlet.dev/docs/sdks.md) · [Integrations](https://cotlet.dev/docs/integrations.md)

Add a shift to a location as a draft that only managers see.

Deputy API: https://cotlet.dev/docs/api/deputy.md

`POST https://cotlet.dev/api/v1/deputy/locations/{location_id}/shifts`

Access: write. Confirm: waits for the user's OK before it runs.

Adds one shift as a draft, so it shows to managers and not to the team until publish_shifts runs. Leave employee_id out to create an open shift. Returns the shift_id. It never notifies anyone. By default you confirm each call; you can switch that off for this tool.

## Parameters

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `location_id` | integer | yes | Location ID from list_locations. |
| `date` | date | yes | Day of the shift, YYYY-MM-DD. |
| `start` | string | yes | Start time, HH:MM. |
| `end` | string | yes | End time, HH:MM. |
| `employee_id` | integer | no | Employee ID from list_employees. Default: open shift. |

## Request

**cURL**

```bash
curl -X POST https://cotlet.dev/api/v1/deputy/locations/1/shifts \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $COTLET_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"date":"2026-10-01","start":"start","end":"end"}'
```

**Python**

```python
result = client.call("deputy", "create_shift", {"location_id":1,"date":"2026-10-01","start":"start","end":"end"})
```

**Node.js**

```js
const result = await cotlet.call('deputy', 'create_shift', {"location_id":1,"date":"2026-10-01","start":"start","end":"end"});
```

**CLI**

```bash
cotlet call deputy create_shift --data '{"location_id":1,"date":"2026-10-01","start":"start","end":"end"}'
```

## Example response

```json
{
  "shift_id": 733,
  "date": "2026-10-26",
  "start": "09:00",
  "end": "17:00",
  "employee": "Ana Lopez",
  "state": "draft"
}
```

Previous: [List leave requests](https://cotlet.dev/docs/api/deputy/list_leave_requests.md)
Next: [Publish draft shifts](https://cotlet.dev/docs/api/deputy/publish_shifts.md)

---

Give your AI agents your signed-in browser.

**Product:** [Integrations](https://cotlet.dev/integrations.md) · [Use cases](https://cotlet.dev/use-cases.md) · [How it works](https://cotlet.dev/how-it-works.md) · [Pricing](https://cotlet.dev/pricing.md) · [Security](https://cotlet.dev/security.md)

**Resources:** [Blog](https://cotlet.dev/blog.md) · [API docs](https://cotlet.dev/docs.md) · [Help center](https://cotlet.dev/help.md) · [Changelog](https://cotlet.dev/changelog.md) · [GitHub](https://github.com/cotletdev/cotlet)

**Solutions:** [For developers](https://cotlet.dev/for-developers.md) · [For automation agencies](https://cotlet.dev/for-agencies.md)

**Company:** [About](https://cotlet.dev/about.md) · [AI info: company facts](https://cotlet.dev/ai-info.md) · [Contact](https://cotlet.dev/contact.md)

**Legal:** [Terms of service](https://cotlet.dev/terms) · [Privacy policy](https://cotlet.dev/privacy) · [Refund policy](https://cotlet.dev/refunds) · [Acceptable use](https://cotlet.dev/acceptable-use) · [Cookie policy](https://cotlet.dev/cookies) · [DPA](https://cotlet.dev/dpa) · [Subprocessors](https://cotlet.dev/subprocessors)

**Elsewhere:** [Status page](https://status.cotlet.dev) · [Cotlet on GitHub](https://github.com/cotletdev) · [Cotlet on X](https://x.com/cotletdev) · [Cotlet on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/cotletdev) · [Cotlet on Product Hunt](https://www.producthunt.com/products/cotlet) · [Cotlet on Crunchbase](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/cotlet) · [Cotlet on SaaSHub](https://www.saashub.com/cotlet)

Cotlet is an independent service. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any of the products listed on this site. Product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

## For AI agents: sign your user up

Is your user asking you to sign them up for Cotlet? You can do it for them, no account or key needed.

1. Read the fields and their allowed values: GET https://cotlet.dev/api/v1/access-requests
2. Ask the user for each value: email, apps, what you will do with them. If they leave the password to you, generate a strong one and show it to them.
3. Show the user what you will send, then POST it as JSON to https://cotlet.dev/api/v1/access-requests.

One call creates the account and sends the access request; we email the user when access is granted.