# Talk to a person after hours

URL: /en/docs/cookbook/use-cases/after-hours

A skill recipe that hands the chat to staff during working hours and, after hours, shares your hours and schedules a follow-up.



This recipe handles "can I talk to a person" at any time of day. It uses built-in actions only, so it works in every workspace.

**When to use**: the customer asks for a human.

## Steps [#steps]

1. **Ask**: a short summary of what they need, so staff don't ask again.
2. **If** it is outside working hours:
   1. **Tell**: the working hours, and that the team will reply when they open.
   2. **Tool**: Schedule a follow-up.
3. **Else**:
   1. **Tool**: Hand off to staff.
   2. **Tell**: a team member will take over now.

Guardrail: "Never pretend to be a human."

## Ask your assistant [#ask-your-assistant]

> Create a skill "Talk to a person" for when a customer asks for a human. Ask for a short summary. If it's outside working hours, tell them our hours and schedule a follow-up. Otherwise hand off to staff and tell them someone is coming.


## FAQ

### How does the agent know the working hours?

From your agent's settings and knowledge. Write the hours there so the If condition can be checked.

### Does the agent stop replying after the handoff?

Yes. It pauses in that conversation until your staff resolve it.

### Why ask for a summary first?

So your staff can help right away without asking the customer to repeat themselves.