Use Google Cal to schedule appointments with multiple employees

[Loth]

We've been trying to switch entirely to Google Calendar from Calendly.
I am having problems with 2 main things.

1. I need to be able to schedule a meeting with all 5 employees and know when they're free. I can see all of their work calendars; but even if they have their personal calendars linked- it only cross references the one calendar connected to their work email. So I can't see if they're out for a doctors appointment or something that's marked on their personal calendar. I tried to look into zappier to see if I could create a zap for them that would mark out-of-office on their work calendar whenever they added something to their personal calendar. I did not have any luck with that. I could ask them to also share their personal calendars as just free/busy view, but I would like to do it an easier way if possible. And even if they share with me, they would still have difficulty scheduling appointments among multiple other employees when I'm not there.

2. I'm trying to create an appointment schedule for both me and and employee where clients would meet with both of us. Having the same problem of it not cross-referencing personal calendars.

Thanks!

[KAM]

@Loth I think this is unfortunately just a sign of bad data. 

Employees have personal calendars but they need to maintain their work calendars.  That includes using the Out of Office.  Example, my personal calendar will have something like Appt with Dr. Bob with the location and all the information.  My work calendar, I will add an "out of office" calendar item that mirrors the time with minimal information such as "At a Drs Appt".

My colleagues, boss, etc. can see that I'm out of office and at the Doctors but not the doctors name, etc. which might leak personal information.

Task your employees with using the out of office feature, the work location, work hours, etc. so you have good data available to help you (and AI) make decisions.

HTH, KAM

[Loth]

Thanks @KAM ! 

Do you know if there's any way to get a google work calendar to automatically update with an "out of office" for the timeframe another (personal) calendar is marked as busy? Whether through Google or something like Zapier?

Because yes, you're right- if we just got all the data onto the work calendars, then that would resolve the cross-check problem.

Thanks!

[KAM]

@Loth sorry, I'm not aware of something like that but it's a good idea. -KAM