# When a month is locked

![When a month is locked](/files/help/employee-availability-2.mp4 "A submitted month past the deadline says the month is locked.")

An employee sees a lock after they submitted the month and the availability deadline has passed. A scheduler reopens that month from **Availability** under Shift & Attendance. Publishing a schedule does not create pay, and a locked month does not create pay.

1. Open **Availability** in the employee portal and go to the month.
2. Read the message: This month is locked. Ask a scheduler to reopen it if you need to make a change.
3. A scheduler opens **Availability**, finds the person, and sets Status from Submitted to **Reopened**.
4. In **Reopen availability**, add **Reason (optional)** if you want one, then choose **Reopen**.

The dialog says the person can update that month and submit again. The note on the dialog is: Use this when someone needs to correct a submitted month after the deadline.

## What you should see

After **Reopen**, the confirmation says Availability reopened. The employee can mark days again and choose **Submit**.

On the scheduler’s month, a passed deadline adds this to the due line: late submissions need a reopen.

## If something looks wrong

**Copy last month** and **Submit** stay unavailable while the month is locked. Days on that calendar cannot be selected.

A month that has not been submitted yet shows the due line as that month was due, without the locked message. Submit the month, or ask a scheduler if the deadline has passed and the save is refused with the locked message.

A past month says This month has already passed. Reopen is for a submitted month after the deadline, on the row whose status is Submitted. Choose **Cancel** in the dialog to leave the month submitted.