Overview

FTE Tree includes comments, messages, mentions, and email notifications so users can discuss position-control work from the related record.

Comments are separate from approval decision notes. Use comments for discussion. Use approval notes or reason choices when documenting an approval action.

Notifications help users return to the record that needs attention. They do not change permissions, approval review, or Activity history.

Access needed

Activity Access needed
View messages Active organization membership
View or add comments The view permission for the record being discussed, such as View positions, View position requests, or View employees
Configure notification defaults Organization user settings or collaboration settings access
Access setup See Permissions and roles.

Comments

Comments can appear on records such as positions, employees, and approval requests. Users who can view the record can see its comments, and users with the relevant comment access can add replies.

Comments support:

  • Threaded replies.
  • Mentions limited to users who can view the record.
  • Follow and mute controls.
  • Activity history for comment actions.
  • Email notifications based on user and organization settings.

Use comments when you need a visible discussion about the record. Use an approval note when the note explains an approval decision. Use an audit note when the note explains the action being saved.

Mentions and replies

Mention a user when you need that person to review the record or respond to a question. FTE Tree limits mentions to users who can view the record, which prevents a comment from exposing restricted information to someone without access.

Replies stay with the original comment thread. This makes it easier to keep a staffing question, attachment question, or approval clarification together instead of spreading it across separate messages.

Messages

Messages notify users about work that needs attention, such as approval tasks, request updates, mentions, account changes, or support activity. Use the message list to review unread and recent messages.

Messages can link back to the related record. Open the record before acting so you can confirm the current status, effective dates, attachments, comments, and Activity history.

Follow and mute

Follow a thread when you want updates about future replies. Mute a thread when you no longer need comment email for that discussion. Follow and mute settings affect comment notifications only; they do not stop required security, invitation, billing, support, or approval emails.

Organization defaults can subscribe users to certain comment threads automatically. Individual users can adjust their preferences where the organization allows user-level choices.

Email notifications

Your profile can control which comment email mode you use where your organization allows user-level choices:

  • Off: Do not send comment email.
  • Delayed: Send email only when you miss the FTE Tree notification.
  • Digest: Include eligible comment activity in a scheduled digest.
  • Immediate: Send comment email as soon as possible.

Some operational emails, such as account, security, invitation, billing, or required approval notifications, may still be sent even when comment email is off.

When email is delayed or missing

Check these items before opening a support request:

  • Confirm your email address is correct and verified.
  • Review your profile notification settings.
  • Ask an administrator whether the organization default allows user-level comment email choices.
  • Check whether the thread is muted.
  • Confirm that you still have access to the record that generated the message.
  • Check spam or quarantine rules for your email service.

If an approval notification is missing, open the approval work list directly. Required approval work remains visible there when you have the needed access.

Organization defaults

Administrators can configure default comment email behavior, missed-activity timing, digest timing, and approval reminder settings. Individual users can then adjust their profile preferences where user-level choice is allowed.

Retention and review

Comments and messages stay with the organization record. Activity history may record comment actions, message activity, and notification-related events where available. Use Activity history when you need to review a change trail rather than a discussion thread.