Providing greater visibility with additional Google Calendar statuses in Google Chat

What’s changing

Last year, we introduced the ability to see additional Google Calendar statuses like “In a meeting” or “In focus time” in Google Chat. Starting today, Chat statuses will include even more information, such as: 

• How much longer someone is in a meeting or focus time 
• If someone has an upcoming commitment within the next 10 minutes 
• If someone has an upcoming out of office event within the next business day 

The Chat status will automatically disappear once you send a message to someone or you can manually dismiss it. However, if their status changes, an updated status will reappear. 

Additionally, you can see the current working location and local time zone set by your colleagues when sending a new message to them in Chat. 

Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 

Why you’d use it 

This feature gives you a better understanding of others’ availability, helping you plan when to reach out and collaborate. If someone is currently unavailable, you now have a more accurate picture of their response time. 

Additional details 

This feature will be rolling out to mobile devices in the coming months. 

Getting started 

• Admins: This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled at the domain or OU level. Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting Calendar user availability display. 
• End users: If enabled by your admin, your Calendar status will be visible across Google Workspace products. Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting your availability in Google Calendar, changing your availability status and mute notifications in Google Chat, or how to stop sharing availability information with other apps. 

Rollout pace 

• Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 2, 2023 

Availability 

• Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers 
• Not available to users with personal Google Accounts 

Resources 

• Google Workspace Admin Help: Set Calendar user status display 
• Google Help: Set your working hours & location 
• Google Help: Change your availability status and mute notifications in Google Chat 
• Google Help: Stop sharing your calendar publicly, with your organization, or with specific people 
• Google Workspace Updates Blog: View additional Calendar statuses in Google Chat