Tip 601: Show time as Types

One problem telecommuters face is in setting up their Outlook calendar to show their availability. If they set up appointments marked out-of-office (because they are out of the office) no one will schedule calls or appointments, thinking they are unavailable.  As a result, we get many requests asking how to add additional types – telecommuting, Office A, Office B, etc, – so others will know they are available even though they are not in the office.

Unfortunately, the Show time as list is not editable. You’re stuck with just four choices: Free, Busy, Out-of-Office, and Tentative.

Outlook 2013 added "Working Elsewhere" to the list.

You’re not busy, just not “in”. You’re out of the office, but still available. You’re free for calls (but not face-to-face meetings) – but appointments marked “Free” won’t show up in your Free/Busy.

That leaves Tentative. Set up tentative appointments for the “out of office but available” periods and put your availability in the subject field: “Home, can take calls”  “At Downtown office”  etc so that others will know your status and can schedule appropriate appointments with you.

Published March 25, 2009. Last updated on July 31, 2014.