Overview
The Google Chat integration sends notifications to your Google Chat spaces when leave requests, approvals, and other events occur in TimeLeaf. Managers can view request details directly in the chat card. This feature is available on the Professional plan and above.
Setting up the webhook
Create an incoming webhook in Google Chat
- Open Google Chat and navigate to the space where you want notifications.
- Click the space name at the top, then Apps & integrations > Manage webhooks.
- Click Add another and give the webhook a name (e.g., "TimeLeaf").
- Copy the generated webhook URL.
Connect the webhook in TimeLeaf
- Go to Settings > Integrations > Google Chat.
- Click Add Webhook.
- Paste the webhook URL from Google Chat.
- Give the connection a name (e.g., "Engineering Space", "HR Alerts").
- Select which events should post to this space.
- Optionally filter by team. only events from the selected teams will be sent.
- Click Save and Test to send a test message to the space.
You can configure multiple webhooks to send different event types to different spaces.
Channel notifications
The following events can trigger a Google Chat notification:
| Event | What is posted |
|---|---|
| Leave request submitted | Employee name, leave type, dates, and a link to the request |
| Leave request approved | Employee name, approver, dates, and confirmation |
| Leave request rejected | Employee name, approver, reason for rejection |
| Timesheet submitted | Employee name, week, total hours, and a link to review |
| Shift published | Summary of the published schedule with a link |
| Overtime alert | Employee name, hours worked, and the overtime threshold |
Approval cards
When a leave request is submitted, the Google Chat message includes an approval card with:
- Employee name and profile photo
- Leave type and requested dates
- Number of days requested
- Current leave balance
- A View in TimeLeaf button that links directly to the approval page
Managers receive the card in the configured space and can click through to approve or reject the request in TimeLeaf. Approval actions must be taken in the TimeLeaf app. the card is informational only.
Leave request notifications
Leave request notifications are the most common use case for the Google Chat integration. A typical notification flow:
- An employee submits a leave request in TimeLeaf.
- A card is posted to the configured Google Chat space within seconds.
- The employee's manager sees the card and clicks through to review.
- After the manager approves or rejects, a follow-up message is posted to the space.
Reducing noise
If your space receives too many notifications, narrow the scope:
- Filter by team so only relevant requests appear.
- Subscribe only to specific event types (e.g., leave requests but not timesheets).
- Create a dedicated space for TimeLeaf notifications rather than posting to a general channel.
Google Chat webhooks are one-way. TimeLeaf sends messages to Chat but does not read messages from Chat. No Google Chat data is stored in TimeLeaf.
Troubleshooting
If notifications are not appearing:
- Verify the webhook URL is still active in Google Chat (webhooks can be deleted or rotated).
- Check the Delivery Log under Settings > Integrations > Google Chat > [Webhook] > Deliveries for error details.
- Ensure the events and team filters match the expected activity.