Why can I not apply for a certain shift?

Topic

Shifts

Type of shift

Freelance shift

Employed shift

22 Sep 2026

There are a few reasons you might not be able to apply for a shift.

It also depends on whether it’s a freelance shift or an employed shift, since each type has its own logic.

Employed shift

For employed shifts, the reasons are usually about agreements, rest, or weekly limits:

You don’t have a valid ID

Check that your ID is still valid. If it’s expired or about to, just upload a new one and you’ll be good to go.

Your framework agreement hasn’t been signed yet.

This only needs to be done once, for your first shift. If you can’t sign it, contact support, we’ll help you.

You need a mandatory rest.

After each workday you get at least 11 hours of rest (14 hours after a night shift). If you’ve been working a lot, this could even extend to 32–36 hours.

You’ve reached your weekly hour limit.

You can work up to 60 hours in a week, but if you’re looking over multiple weeks, the limit is lower: 55 or even 48 hours per week.

You’ve reached the maximum number of strikes.

Strikes are given for rule violations like missing a shift, and three strikes means you can’t sign up for employed shifts until it’s resolved.

Freelance shift

If you’re trying to respond as a freelancer, some common reasons you can’t apply include:

Your ID is not verfied

First, check that your ID is still valid. If it’s expired or about to, just upload a new one and you’ll be good to go.

Time for the next step

You’ve just completed your first shift or have been accepted for it, and now it’s time to take the next step: getting a VAT ID. You can only try out the platform once without a VAT ID.

You don’t have your VAT ID yet

And the client only accepts flex workers with a VAT ID. During the platform trial shift, you can’t apply for those shifts.

Hour limit

You’ve reached the maximum number of hours with a client. Freelancers can work up to 660 hours per year for the same client.

Substitute shift

You’re trying to respond to a substitution shift, but your VAT settings don’t match the person you’re substituting.

Open checkout

You’ve missed the checkout deadline for a previous shift. You have seven days to complete it, and until you do, you can’t apply for new shifts.