Color Code and Add Icons to Time Off Categories

Decorative header showing that this feature is available in the Core, Pro, and Elite packages

How do I color code my time off categories?

Purpose: To help you understand how to change the color display and icons for time off categories on the Who's Out calendar and Time Off Schedule report.

Table of Contents

Edit Time Off Category

Screenshot of the Edit Time Off Category dialog in BambooHR, demonstrating how an admin can customize a time off category. The interface shows fields for category name, paid policies, payroll inclusion, and calendar visibility. At the bottom, there are settings to select an icon and assign a calendar color, with a dropdown displaying multiple color swatches.

Under the Overview tab in Time Off settings, hover your cursor over the desired time off category card, click on the gear icon, and then click Edit Category. Select the icon and color* you would like to apply to that category. You can choose from 18 icons and eight colors.

*Time off categories automatically default to the color you have selected for your account in Logo & Color settings.

Expand or collapse content Who's Out calendar
Screenshot of the Who’s Out calendar in BambooHR, showing a monthly view with different time off categories represented by distinct colors. The calendar includes a legend at the bottom with multiple category names and their corresponding color codes. This demonstrates how color coding allows employees and managers to quickly identify different types of scheduled time off if granted access.

When employees have scheduled time off, the Who's Out calendar will show the color of each time off category. An employee will see a time off category in the calendar if you give them access to view that category through Time Off settings.

Expand or collapse content Time Off Schedule report
Screenshot of the Time Off Schedule report in BambooHR, showing a calendar view for a month where employee time off entries appear in color-coded blocks. A tooltip explains that requests not yet approved will appear in gray. This highlights how the chosen color codes for time off categories carry over into reports, making it easier to distinguish between categories in upcoming schedules.

The selected color codes for time off categories will display with any upcoming time off requests in the Time Off Schedule report.

Expand or collapse content Employee profile
Screenshot of the Time Off tab on the Employee Profile, showing balance cards for different time off policies. Each card displays the hours available, the category name, and an associated icon. This demonstrates how the selected icons provide visual markers above each balance, helping employees differentiate their time off options within their profile.

The selected icon will show above each time off balance on the Time Off tab of the employee profile.

Expand or collapse content Home
Screenshot of the Time Off widget on Home in BambooHR, showing time off balances alongside their icon. A button labeled Request Time Off is displayed below the balances. This demonstrates how selected icons also appear in the widget, maintaining consistency across BambooHR.

The selected icon will also show next to each time off balance in the Time Off widget on Home.