SMS Terms: shift text messages

01 The program

Businesses that use Sous (“employers”) can text their own employees about work shifts. Each employer runs its own program under its own name, for example “Maple Street Diner shift texts.” The texts come from a phone number dedicated to that employer and start with the employer's name. Sigil R&D Inc. sends them on the employer's behalf through Sous.

02 What you will receive

• Offers of open shifts you are eligible for, and reminders while an offer is open.
• Confirmations, changes and cancellations for shifts you accepted or were assigned.
• Answers to messages you send, such as confirming a call-out you reported.
• One-time sign-in links, only when you ask for one.
• When you sign up: a one-time confirmation code, then a text confirming that you signed up.

The texts are never marketing or promotional messages, and they never include pay or tip amounts. An example offer:

Maple Street Diner: Can you work Sat, Oct 17, 5:00 – 11:00 PM as Server at Main St? It's yours if you want it. Reply YES K7Q2 to take it or NO K7Q2 to pass, by 3:00 PM. Details: https://…

03 How you opt in

Each employee decides for themselves whether to receive shift texts. Employers can't opt employees in, and Sous doesn't text a number copied from another system (such as a payroll or scheduling system) until its owner has confirmed it this way:

1. Your manager sends you a personal sign-up link, for example by text from their own phone, by e-mail or on paper. Each link is for one person, works once and expires after 7 days.
2. On the sign-up page you enter your mobile number, choose English or Spanish, and tick a box that is not pre-ticked, next to the consent statement below. Ticking it is optional and is not a condition of your job.
3. Sous texts that number a 6-digit code. Entering the code confirms that the number is yours.
4. Only then do shift texts start, beginning with a text confirming that you signed up. Sous records when you agreed, the number you confirmed, and the exact statement you saw.

The consent statement, as it appears on the sign-up page (the employer's name appears in place of “Maple Street Diner”):

I agree to receive recurring automated text messages from Maple Street Diner, sent through Sous, at the mobile number I provided, about open shifts, shift changes, confirmations and sign-in links. Consent is not a condition of employment. Message frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help and STOP to opt out. See the SMS Terms and Privacy Policy.

Acepto recibir mensajes de texto automáticos y recurrentes de Maple Street Diner, enviados a través de Sous, al número de celular que proporcioné, sobre turnos disponibles, cambios de turno, confirmaciones y enlaces para iniciar sesión. El consentimiento no es una condición de empleo. La frecuencia de los mensajes varía. Pueden aplicar tarifas de mensajes y datos. Responde AYUDA para obtener ayuda y ALTO para darte de baja. Consulta los Términos de SMS y la Política de privacidad.

On the screen, “SMS Terms” and “Privacy Policy” link to this page and to our Privacy Policy.

04 Message frequency

Message frequency varies. It depends on how often shifts open up at your workplace and whether you are eligible for them. Some weeks you may get no texts. When a shift needs covering, you may get a few texts about it: the offer, a reminder, and a confirmation or update.

05 Cost

Msg & data rates may apply, according to your mobile plan. Neither your employer nor Sigil R&D Inc. charges you for these texts.

06 Answering offers

Reply YES to take an offered shift or NO to pass. If you have more than one open offer, add the offer's code, for example YES K7Q2. A shift is yours only once you receive a confirmation text, or once it shows as confirmed on the shift's web page.

Accepted for yes: YES, Y, YEP, YEAH, YA, OK, OKAY, SURE, ACCEPT; in Spanish SI, ACEPTO, CLARO. Accepted for no: NO, N, NOPE, NAH, PASS, DECLINE; in Spanish PASO.

07 How to stop the texts

Reply STOP at any time. These words also work: STOP, STOPALL, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, QUIT, REVOKE, OPTOUT; in Spanish ALTO, PARAR, BAJA. You can also opt out any other reasonable way, such as replying “please stop texting me,” telling your employer, or e-mailing [email protected].

After you opt out you get one last text confirming it, for example:

Maple Street Diner: You're unsubscribed and won't get shift texts. Reply START to subscribe again.

Opting out stops texts from that employer's number. If you work for more than one business that uses Sous, each one texts from its own number, and you opt out of each separately. To start again, reply START, UNSTOP (in Spanish ALTA) to the same number.

08 Help

Reply HELP for help (also INFO; in Spanish AYUDA). You will get a reply like this:

Maple Street Diner shift texts. Reply YES or NO to shift offers. Reply STOP to opt out. Msg & data rates may apply.

For anything else, e-mail [email protected]. Questions about your schedule or your job are best answered by your employer.

09 Language

Texts are available in English and Spanish. You choose the language when you opt in.

10 Delivery

Wireless carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Text delivery isn't guaranteed. If a text doesn't arrive, your shift details are still available from your employer and on the web pages they share with you.

11 Privacy

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties.

Your mobile number is used to send you the texts described here. It is shared only with the service providers that deliver them, such as our SMS provider, and with your employer, who already has it. Our Privacy Policy explains the rest.

12 Changes and contact

We may update these SMS Terms. The effective date above changes when we do, and material changes are announced by text before they apply. Questions: [email protected].