Direct Answer: Remote teams reduce presence confusion by publishing working hours, using status + DND for context, and using schedule‑based presence only when auto‑away misrepresents real work hours.

If you want a schedule‑based way to keep presence consistent during work hours, see Idle Pilot or start free.

Remote Work Availability: Keep Slack Signals Clear

Why it happens

Slack presence is a connection signal, not a productivity score. Without clear hours and status context, teams misread away time.

Options

1. Working hours + status: primary signal for availability.
2. DND for focus time: reduces interruptions with clear context.
3. Schedule‑based presence: for teams where auto‑away causes confusion.

Step-by-step

1. Add working hours to your profile.
2. Use status text during meetings and focus blocks.
3. Schedule DND for deep work.
4. Use schedule‑based presence if auto‑away flips during real work hours.

Risks / policy considerations

• Don’t extend schedules outside real work hours.
• Avoid device hacks that conflict with IT policy.

Summary: clear hours + status context solve most issues. If you still need consistent presence, use a schedule‑based approach. See the Slack presence scheduler hub or Keep Slack Active.