> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ilert.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ilert.com/chatops/slack/lookup-who-is-on-call.md).

# Look up who is on call in Slack

Answer "who do I page?" inside Slack with the /il-oncall slash command, for an alert source or an escalation policy.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Connect your Slack workspace first**

An **Admin** or **Account owner** connects the workspace once, as described in the [Slack integration guide](/chatops/slack.md).
{% endhint %}

`/il-oncall` answers who is on call, in the channel you type it in. The reply is visible only to you.

There are two ways to set it up:

|                | Who can look up                            | What you configure                                  |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **Restricted** | Slack users who also have an ilert account | Nothing beyond connecting the workspace             |
| **Open**       | Anyone in the workspace                    | A Slack alert source with the on-call option ticked |

## Option 1: Restrict to Slack users with an ilert account

Anyone whose ilert username or email address matches their Slack email address can type `/il-oncall` in any channel. ilert offers a search over the alert sources and escalation policies that person may read, 50 of each, and answers with the people on call.

## Option 2: Let anyone in the workspace look up who is on call

Useful in a team's own channel: colleagues ask who to page without knowing the name of an escalation policy, and without an ilert account.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

## Create or open a Slack alert source

Follow [Create alerts in Slack](/chatops/slack/create-alerts-in-slack.md#option-2-let-anyone-in-the-workspace-raise-an-alert) to create one, or open the **Slack settings** tab of an existing Slack alert source. One alert source covers both commands.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## List the channels and the escalation policies

Under **Slack channels**, add the channels where the lookup should work. Under **Escalation policies**, choose the policies it should report on. Keep it to 10, as above. With none chosen, the alert source's own escalation policy is used.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Turn the lookup on

Under **/il-oncall slash command configuration**, tick **Let Slack users without an ilert account see who is on-call using the /il-oncall slash command**.

This also ticks **Include the primary phone number of the user who is on-call in on-call posts**. Untick it if the phone numbers of your on-call people should not be shown to everyone in the channel.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

## Save

Click **Continue setup** on a new alert source, or **Save** on one that is already set up.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

Anyone in those channels can now type `/il-oncall` and get the list, without a search.

## What the answer shows

* One block per escalation policy, with the people on call.
* **Only the first escalation level** of each policy. Later levels, and the delays between them, are not shown — the answer is "who gets paged first", not the whole policy.
* A user rule shows that user as "(always on-call)"; a schedule shows the current shift and when it ends; a team rule lists its members.
* Phone numbers, where you allowed them.
* People are shown as Slack mentions where their ilert email address matches a Slack account, and by name otherwise.
* A footer names the time zone the times are given in — yours, as Slack reports it.

## FAQ

### Someone gets "You don't have permission to view current on-call."

The message ends "You can disable this setting in alert source Slack settings", which has it backwards: the setting has to be **enabled**.

They have no ilert account, and the channel's Slack alert source does not allow the open lookup. Tick **Let Slack users without an ilert account see who is on-call using the /il-oncall slash command** in that alert source's **Slack settings**.

### Someone gets told there is no Slack alert source for this channel

The channel is in no Slack alert source, and they have no matching ilert account. Add the channel to one, as above.

### Can I hide phone numbers?

Yes. Untick **Include the primary phone number of the user who is on-call in on-call posts**. People who do have an ilert account still see the numbers.

### Does the lookup show the whole escalation policy?

No, only its first level. Open the escalation policy in ilert to see every level.


---

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