Replacing `blackout` with `blockout` to be more inclusive

For large projects, consider separating the announcement from the actual feature launch. By doing so, it can create more freedom to iterate during the customer rollout. For example, you could announce in advance to give customers ample notice, and then roll it out to new customers first, then to existing Free customers, then to existing paid customers. Or you could do the opposite, and roll it out to customers first, before announcing broadly, to ensure the user experience is great before making a marketing splash.

When considering dates for a product announcement or launch that may impact our Field team, consider the [blackout restrictions](/handbook/sales/field-communications/#field-communications-playbook-flowchart) recognized by the Field team to ensure there won't be any major disruption to the business near quarter end.

When considering dates for a product announcement or launch that may impact our Field team, consider the [blockout restrictions](/handbook/sales/field-communications/#field-communications-playbook-flowchart) recognized by the Field team to ensure there won't be any major disruption to the business near quarter end.

#### Four phase transition

description: "The Field Communications team is responsible for creating effective, timely, and easily consumable communications with Sales and Customer Success audiences"

---

## Welcome to the Field Communications Page

This team is responsible for creating effective, timely, and easily consumable communications with the Field team (Sales, Customer Success, Channel, Alliances, Revenue Strategy, Operations & Enablement). Our goal is to help the field sell better, faster, and smarter with communication programs that keep them better informed of organizational/business updates that impact their roles, as well as useful resources that will enable day-to-day work.

**Considerations**:

   1. **Due to the complexity, all Tier 1 announcements require at least 1-2 months notice to the Field Communicatiosn team.** As a general best practice, there should only be 2-3 Tier 1 updates per quarter to keep the Field focused on driving revenue.

   1. Field Communications will enforce a blackout period in the final two weeks of each quarter to limit distractions and allow the Field to focus on closing business.

   1. Field Communications will enforce a blockout period in the final two weeks of each quarter to limit distractions and allow the Field to focus on closing business.

## Tier 2 Update

**Considerations**:

   1. **Due to the complexity, all Tier 2 announcements require at least 1 month notice to the Field Communicatiosn team.**

   1. Field Communications will enforce a blackout period in the final two weeks of each quarter to limit distractions and allow the Field to focus on closing business.

   1. Field Communications will enforce a blockout period in the final two weeks of each quarter to limit distractions and allow the Field to focus on closing business.

## Tier 3 Update

**Use Cases**: Process changes that require reps to change a behavior, major competitive intelligence that impacts GitLab’s position in the market, major Channel & Alliance partner updates, major Field organization changes, training or enablement.

**Considerations**:

   1. Field Communications will enforce a blackout period in the final two weeks of each quarter to limit distractions and allow the Field to focus on closing business.

   1. Field Communications will enforce a blockout period in the final two weeks of each quarter to limit distractions and allow the Field to focus on closing business.

## Tier 4 Update

**Considerations**:

   1. Field Communications will limit the number of Field survey requests to one per month. Survey requests will be assessed and scheduled based on this cadence, and exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

   1. Field Communications will enforce a blackout period in the final two weeks of each quarter to limit distractions and allow the Field to focus on closing business.

   1. Field Communications will enforce a blockout period in the final two weeks of each quarter to limit distractions and allow the Field to focus on closing business.

## Tier 5 Update

      - Field Announcement::Tier 6

   1. Note: If the announcement request includes a request to survey some or all Field team members, the `Field Survey` tag will be applied to the issue and Field Communications will work with the requestor to determine if request fits within the survey limits set each month or if plans should be adjusted.

3. Field Communications will collaborate with the requester on the announcement details and copy directly in the issue to finalize the roll-out plan and timeline.

   - Field Communications will enforce a blackout period in the final two weeks of each quarter to limit distractions and allow the Field to focus on closing business. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis for urgent announcements that require the Field’s immediate attention (system outage, critical update affecting customers and/or closing business).  The blackout periods for FY24 & FY25 are as follows:

   - Field Communications will enforce a blockout period in the final two weeks of each quarter to limit distractions and allow the Field to focus on closing business. Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis for urgent announcements that require the Field’s immediate attention (system outage, critical update affecting customers and/or closing business).  The blockout periods for FY24 & FY25 are as follows:

      - Q3-FY24: 2023-10-17 - 2023-11-01

      - Q4-FY24: 2024-01-17 - 2024-01-31

      - Q1-FY25: 2024-04-16 - 2024-04-30

Please seek explicite and documented approval from the Senior Director of Sales Systems for any of the non-standard situations:

1. A deploy during a designated black out period.

1. A deploy during a designated block out period.

1. The need to self deploy a non-invasive change.

1. The need to create a non-invasive formula field in production for time sensitive triage of a critical issue.

- Provide the information for filing of section 16 filings (e.g., Form 4s) for section 16 officers and directors

- Oversee and manage relationships with external equity trading platform (E*TRADE) and transfer agent (Computershare)

- Collaborate and partner with internal teams on all equity-related matters to ensure accurate dataflow, provide support for reporting needs, and respond to ad hoc requests

- Work with our E*TRADE platform as instructed from the Legal team on the list of employees affected by trading blackout periods, pre-clearance, and enforce insider trading policy restrictions, including coordination with brokers on Rule 10b5-1 trading plans,

- Work with our E*TRADE platform as instructed from the Legal team on the list of employees affected by trading blockout periods, pre-clearance, and enforce insider trading policy restrictions, including coordination with brokers on Rule 10b5-1 trading plans,

- Prepare equity-related materials for the Board and Compensation Committee meetings, working with our Team Resources

- Maintain compliance with the terms and condition of global equity plans and internal processes and procedures related to equity administration

- Support employee understanding of equity awards programs and policies through the preparation of training materials, employee communications, and providing training to employees

- Provide the information for filing of section 16 filings (e.g., Form 4s) for section 16 officers and directors

- Oversee and manage relationships with external equity trading platform (E*TRADE) and transfer agent (Computershare)

- Collaborate and partner with internal teams on all equity-related matters to ensure accurate dataflow, provide support for reporting needs, and respond to ad hoc requests

- Work with our E*TRADE platform as instructed from the Legal team on the list of employees affected by trading blackout periods, pre-clearance, and enforce insider trading policy restrictions, including coordination with brokers on Rule 10b5-1 trading plans,

- Work with our E*TRADE platform as instructed from the Legal team on the list of employees affected by trading blockout periods, pre-clearance, and enforce insider trading policy restrictions, including coordination with brokers on Rule 10b5-1 trading plans,

- Prepare equity-related materials for the Board and Compensation Committee meetings, working with our Team Resources

- Maintain compliance with the terms and condition of global equity plans and internal processes and procedures related to equity administration

- Support employee understanding of equity awards programs and policies through the preparation of training materials, employee communications, and providing training to employees