Add engagement-level employee workflow board phase 1

app/modules/employees/service.py

@@ -2703,113 +2703,278 @@ def list_employee_work_kanban(
     status: str = "open",
     financial_year: str | None = None,
 ) -> dict[str, Any]:
-    """Return staff self-work as engagement cards in kanban columns.
+    """Return exactly one employee-board card per assigned engagement.
 
-    Phase 7I does not introduce a new task table. It reuses existing
+    The task engine remains unchanged. The board derives an engagement state from
-    client_service_task_instances and groups assigned tasks by engagement/service
+    the staff member's assigned tasks using this precedence:
-    subscription so staff can open one engagement board and work through tasks.
+
+    completed -> all assigned tasks are closed
+    blocked   -> at least one assigned task is blocked
+    in_progress -> at least one assigned task is started/completed
+    pending   -> no assigned task has started
     """
     today = date.today()
     status_filter = (status or "open").strip().lower()
-    stmt = _employee_work_task_query(db, scope, assigned_only=True, financial_year=financial_year)
+    valid_filters = {"open", "closed", "pending", "in_progress", "blocked", "completed"}
-
+    if status_filter not in valid_filters:
-    if status_filter == "open":
+        status_filter = "open"
-        stmt = stmt.where(ClientServiceTaskInstance.status.notin_(list(CLOSED_TASK_STATUSES)))
-    elif status_filter == "closed":
-        stmt = stmt.where(ClientServiceTaskInstance.status.in_(list(CLOSED_TASK_STATUSES)))
-    elif status_filter in {code for code, _ in TASK_STATUSES}:
-        stmt = stmt.where(ClientServiceTaskInstance.status == status_filter)
 
+    stmt = _employee_work_task_query(
+        db,
+        scope,
+        assigned_only=True,
+        financial_year=financial_year,
+    )
     if q.strip():
         like = f"%{q.strip()}%"
         stmt = stmt.where(
             or_(
                 ClientServiceTaskInstance.task_name.ilike(like),
                 ClientServiceTaskInstance.description.ilike(like),
-                ClientServiceTaskInstance.client.has(or_(Client.client_name.ilike(like), Client.client_code.ilike(like))),
+                ClientServiceTaskInstance.client.has(
-                ClientServiceTaskInstance.catalogue.has(or_(ServiceCatalogue.service_name.ilike(like), ServiceCatalogue.service_code.ilike(like))),
+                    or_(Client.client_name.ilike(like), Client.client_code.ilike(like))
+                ),
+                ClientServiceTaskInstance.catalogue.has(
+                    or_(
+                        ServiceCatalogue.service_name.ilike(like),
+                        ServiceCatalogue.service_code.ilike(like),
+                    )
+                ),
             )
         )
 
     tasks = db.execute(
         stmt.order_by(
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.subscription_id.asc(),
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.sequence_no.asc(),
             ClientServiceTaskInstance.internal_target_date.is_(None),
             ClientServiceTaskInstance.internal_target_date.asc(),
-            ClientServiceTaskInstance.priority.desc(),
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.id.asc(),
-            ClientServiceTaskInstance.sequence_no.asc(),
-            ClientServiceTaskInstance.id.desc(),
         )
     ).scalars().all()
 
-    summary = {"total": len(tasks), "open": 0, "pending": 0, "in_progress": 0, "blocked": 0, "completed": 0, "overdue": 0, "due_today": 0}
     columns = [
         {"code": "pending", "label": "Pending", "cards": []},
         {"code": "in_progress", "label": "In Progress", "cards": []},
         {"code": "blocked", "label": "Blocked", "cards": []},
         {"code": "completed", "label": "Completed", "cards": []},
     ]
-    column_lookup = {c["code"]: c for c in columns}
+    column_lookup = {column["code"]: column for column in columns}
-    card_lookup: dict[tuple[str, int], dict[str, Any]] = {}
+    engagement_lookup: dict[int, dict[str, Any]] = {}
 
     for task in tasks:
         _phase7i_task_card_enrich(task, today=today)
-        status_code = (task.status or "pending").strip().lower()
-        is_closed = status_code in CLOSED_TASK_STATUSES
-        summary["completed" if is_closed else "open"] += 1
-        if status_code in summary:
-            summary[status_code] += 1
-        if task.is_overdue:
-            summary["overdue"] += 1
-        if task.is_due_today:
-            summary["due_today"] += 1
-
-        column_code = "completed" if is_closed else status_code
-        if column_code not in column_lookup:
-            column_code = "pending"
         subscription = getattr(task, "subscription", None)
-        engagement_id = getattr(subscription, "id", None) or getattr(task, "subscription_id", 0) or 0
+        engagement_id = (
-        card_key = (column_code, engagement_id)
+            getattr(subscription, "id", None)
-        if card_key not in card_lookup:
+            or getattr(task, "subscription_id", 0)
+            or 0
+        )
+        if engagement_id not in engagement_lookup:
             client = getattr(task, "client", None)
-            card = {
+            engagement_lookup[engagement_id] = {
                 "engagement_id": engagement_id,
                 "subscription": subscription,
                 "label": _subscription_label(subscription, task),
                 "client_name": getattr(client, "client_name", None) or "Unlinked Client",
                 "client_code": getattr(client, "client_code", None) or "",
-                "service_name": getattr(getattr(subscription, "catalogue", None), "service_name", None) or getattr(getattr(task, "catalogue", None), "service_name", None) or "Service Engagement",
+                "service_name": (
-                "financial_year": getattr(subscription, "financial_year", None) or getattr(task, "financial_year", None) or "-",
+                    getattr(getattr(subscription, "catalogue", None), "service_name", None)
-                "due_date": getattr(subscription, "current_due_date", None) if subscription else getattr(task, "internal_target_date", None),
+                    or getattr(getattr(task, "catalogue", None), "service_name", None)
-                "status": getattr(subscription, "status", None) or "active",
+                    or "Service Engagement"
+                ),
+                "financial_year": (
+                    getattr(subscription, "financial_year", None)
+                    or getattr(task, "financial_year", None)
+                    or "-"
+                ),
+                "due_date": (
+                    getattr(subscription, "current_due_date", None)
+                    if subscription
+                    else getattr(task, "internal_target_date", None)
+                ),
                 "task_count": 0,
-                "open_count": 0,
+                "pending_count": 0,
-                "completed_count": 0,
+                "in_progress_count": 0,
                 "blocked_count": 0,
+                "completed_count": 0,
                 "overdue_count": 0,
                 "due_today_count": 0,
                 "latest_comment": None,
+                "blocked_reason": None,
+                "blocked_task_name": None,
+                "next_task_name": None,
                 "tasks": [],
             }
-            card_lookup[card_key] = card
+
-            column_lookup[column_code]["cards"].append(card)
+        card = engagement_lookup[engagement_id]
-        card = card_lookup[card_key]
+        task_status = (task.status or "pending").strip().lower()
+        is_closed = task_status in CLOSED_TASK_STATUSES
         card["task_count"] += 1
         card["tasks"].append(task)
         if is_closed:
             card["completed_count"] += 1
-        else:
+        elif task_status == "blocked":
-            card["open_count"] += 1
-        if status_code == "blocked":
             card["blocked_count"] += 1
+            if not card["blocked_reason"]:
+                card["blocked_reason"] = (
+                    (getattr(task, "remarks", None) or "").strip()
+                    or (
+                        getattr(task.latest_comment, "message", None)
+                        if task.latest_comment
+                        else None
+                    )
+                    or "Work is awaiting a dependency or clarification."
+                )
+                card["blocked_task_name"] = task.task_name
+        elif task_status == "in_progress":
+            card["in_progress_count"] += 1
+        else:
+            card["pending_count"] += 1
+
         if task.is_overdue:
             card["overdue_count"] += 1
         if task.is_due_today:
             card["due_today_count"] += 1
-        if task.latest_comment and not card.get("latest_comment"):
+        if task.latest_comment and not card["latest_comment"]:
             card["latest_comment"] = task.latest_comment
+        if not is_closed and not card["next_task_name"]:
+            card["next_task_name"] = task.task_name
 
-    return {"summary": summary, "columns": columns, "q": q, "status": status_filter, "today": today}
+    summary = {
+        "total": 0,
+        "open": 0,
+        "pending": 0,
+        "in_progress": 0,
+        "blocked": 0,
+        "completed": 0,
+        "overdue": 0,
+        "due_today": 0,
+    }
 
+    for card in engagement_lookup.values():
+        total = card["task_count"]
+        completed = card["completed_count"]
+        card["progress_percent"] = int(round((completed * 100) / total)) if total else 0
+        card["open_count"] = max(total - completed, 0)
+
+        if total and completed == total:
+            card_status = "completed"
+            card["action_label"] = "View"
+        elif card["blocked_count"]:
+            card_status = "blocked"
+            card["action_label"] = "Open / Follow Up"
+        elif card["in_progress_count"] or completed:
+            card_status = "in_progress"
+            card["action_label"] = "Continue"
+        else:
+            card_status = "pending"
+            card["action_label"] = "Start"
+
+        card["workflow_status"] = card_status
+        card["is_overdue"] = bool(card["overdue_count"])
+        card["is_due_today"] = bool(card["due_today_count"])
+
+        include = (
+            status_filter == card_status
+            or (status_filter == "open" and card_status != "completed")
+            or (status_filter == "closed" and card_status == "completed")
+        )
+        if not include:
+            continue
+
+        column_lookup[card_status]["cards"].append(card)
+        summary["total"] += 1
+        summary[card_status] += 1
+        summary["completed" if card_status == "completed" else "open"] += 1
+        if card["is_overdue"]:
+            summary["overdue"] += 1
+        if card["is_due_today"]:
+            summary["due_today"] += 1
+
+    for column in columns:
+        column["cards"].sort(
+            key=lambda card: (
+                card["due_date"] is None,
+                card["due_date"] or date.max,
+                card["client_name"].lower(),
+                card["service_name"].lower(),
+            )
+        )
+
+    return {
+        "summary": summary,
+        "columns": columns,
+        "q": q,
+        "status": status_filter,
+        "today": today,
+    }
+
+
+def start_employee_engagement_workflow(
+    db: Session,
+    scope: EmployeeScope,
+    engagement_id: int,
+    *,
+    actor_user_id: int,
+    financial_year: str | None = None,
+) -> ClientServiceTaskInstance:
+    """Start the first pending task assigned to the employee in an engagement.
+
+    Existing task status, lock, tenant, branch and financial-year controls are
+    reused. No engagement or task records are duplicated.
+    """
+    stmt = _employee_work_task_query(
+        db,
+        scope,
+        assigned_only=True,
+        financial_year=financial_year,
+    ).where(ClientServiceTaskInstance.subscription_id == engagement_id)
+    tasks = db.execute(
+        stmt.order_by(
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.sequence_no.asc(),
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.internal_target_date.is_(None),
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.internal_target_date.asc(),
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.id.asc(),
+        )
+    ).scalars().all()
+    if not tasks:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=404,
+            detail="Engagement work not found or not assigned to you",
+        )
+
+    already_started = next(
+        (
+            task
+            for task in tasks
+            if (task.status or "").strip().lower() == "in_progress"
+        ),
+        None,
+    )
+    if already_started:
+        return already_started
+
+    first_pending = next(
+        (
+            task
+            for task in tasks
+            if (task.status or "pending").strip().lower() == "pending"
+        ),
+        None,
+    )
+    if not first_pending:
+        return tasks[0]
+
+    return update_own_service_task_status(
+        db,
+        scope,
+        first_pending.id,
+        status="in_progress",
+        remarks=None,
+        actor_user_id=actor_user_id,
+        financial_year=financial_year,
+    )
 
 def list_employee_engagement_documents(db: Session, scope: EmployeeScope, engagement_id: int, *, financial_year: str | None = None) -> list[EngagementDocument]:
     stmt = (

app/modules/employees/templates/employees/self_work.html

@@ -2,13 +2,11 @@
 {% block content %}
 <div class="space-y-6">
   {% include "modules/employees/templates/employees/_my_workspace_tabs.html" %}
+
   <div class="flex flex-wrap items-start justify-between gap-3">
     <div>
       <h2 class="text-xl font-semibold text-slate-900">My Work</h2>
-      <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-slate-500">Board view of your assigned engagements. Open a card to work on tasks and refer to engagement documents.</p>
+      <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-slate-500">One card per assigned engagement. Start, continue, follow up or view the full workflow from here.</p>
-    </div>
-    <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
-      
     </div>
   </div>
 
@@ -24,7 +22,7 @@
   {% endif %}
 
   <div class="grid gap-4 md:grid-cols-6">
-    <div class="rounded-2xl border border-slate-200 bg-white p-4 shadow-soft"><div class="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-slate-500">Total</div><div class="mt-1 text-2xl font-semibold">{{ work_payload.summary.total }}</div></div>
+    <div class="rounded-2xl border border-slate-200 bg-white p-4 shadow-soft"><div class="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-slate-500">Engagements</div><div class="mt-1 text-2xl font-semibold">{{ work_payload.summary.total }}</div></div>
     <div class="rounded-2xl border border-slate-200 bg-white p-4 shadow-soft"><div class="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-slate-500">Open</div><div class="mt-1 text-2xl font-semibold">{{ work_payload.summary.open }}</div></div>
     <div class="rounded-2xl border border-slate-200 bg-white p-4 shadow-soft"><div class="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-slate-500">In Progress</div><div class="mt-1 text-2xl font-semibold">{{ work_payload.summary.in_progress }}</div></div>
     <div class="rounded-2xl border border-rose-200 bg-rose-50 p-4 shadow-soft"><div class="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-rose-600">Blocked</div><div class="mt-1 text-2xl font-semibold text-rose-700">{{ work_payload.summary.blocked }}</div></div>
@@ -36,48 +34,85 @@
     <div class="grid gap-3 md:grid-cols-[1fr_220px_auto]">
       <input type="search" name="q" value="{{ q or '' }}" placeholder="Search engagement, task, client or service" class="rounded-xl border border-slate-300 px-3 py-2 text-sm focus:border-brand-500 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-brand-100">
       <select name="status" class="rounded-xl border border-slate-300 px-3 py-2 text-sm focus:border-brand-500 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-brand-100">
-        <option value="open" {% if status == 'open' %}selected{% endif %}>Open work</option>
+        <option value="open" {% if status == 'open' %}selected{% endif %}>Open engagements</option>
         <option value="pending" {% if status == 'pending' %}selected{% endif %}>Pending</option>
         <option value="in_progress" {% if status == 'in_progress' %}selected{% endif %}>In Progress</option>
         <option value="blocked" {% if status == 'blocked' %}selected{% endif %}>Blocked</option>
         <option value="completed" {% if status == 'completed' %}selected{% endif %}>Completed</option>
-        <option value="closed" {% if status == 'closed' %}selected{% endif %}>Closed work</option>
+        <option value="closed" {% if status == 'closed' %}selected{% endif %}>Closed engagements</option>
       </select>
       <button type="submit" class="rounded-xl bg-brand-600 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-white hover:bg-brand-700">Apply</button>
     </div>
   </form>
 
-  <div class="grid gap-4 xl:grid-cols-4">
+  <div class="space-y-5">
     {% for column in work_payload.columns %}
-    <section class="min-h-[420px] rounded-2xl border border-slate-200 bg-slate-50 p-3 shadow-soft">
+    <section class="rounded-2xl border border-slate-200 bg-slate-50 p-4 shadow-soft">
-      <div class="mb-3 flex items-center justify-between px-1">
+      <div class="mb-4 flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
-        <h3 class="text-sm font-semibold text-slate-900">{{ column.label }}</h3>
+        <div>
-        <span class="rounded-full bg-white px-2.5 py-1 text-xs font-semibold text-slate-600">{{ column.cards|length }}</span>
+          <h3 class="text-base font-semibold text-slate-900">{{ column.label }}</h3>
+          {% if column.code == 'pending' %}<p class="mt-1 text-xs text-slate-500">Assigned engagements where work has not started.</p>{% endif %}
+          {% if column.code == 'in_progress' %}<p class="mt-1 text-xs text-slate-500">Started engagements with remaining assigned work.</p>{% endif %}
+          {% if column.code == 'blocked' %}<p class="mt-1 text-xs text-slate-500">Engagements waiting for documents, clarification, review or another dependency.</p>{% endif %}
+          {% if column.code == 'completed' %}<p class="mt-1 text-xs text-slate-500">All tasks assigned to you in these engagements are complete.</p>{% endif %}
+        </div>
+        <span class="rounded-full bg-white px-3 py-1 text-xs font-semibold text-slate-600">{{ column.cards|length }}</span>
       </div>
-      <div class="space-y-3">
+
+      <div class="grid gap-4 md:grid-cols-2 xl:grid-cols-3">
         {% for card in column.cards %}
-        <article class="rounded-2xl border border-slate-200 bg-white p-4 shadow-sm hover:border-brand-200 hover:shadow-soft">
+        <article class="rounded-2xl border border-slate-200 bg-white p-5 shadow-sm hover:border-brand-200 hover:shadow-soft">
           <div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-3">
             <div>
               <div class="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide text-slate-500">{{ card.client_code or 'Client' }}</div>
-              <h4 class="mt-1 text-sm font-semibold text-slate-900">{{ card.client_name }}</h4>
+              <h4 class="mt-1 text-base font-semibold text-slate-900">{{ card.client_name }}</h4>
             </div>
-            {% if card.overdue_count %}<span class="rounded-full bg-red-100 px-2 py-1 text-[11px] font-semibold text-red-700">Overdue {{ card.overdue_count }}</span>{% elif card.due_today_count %}<span class="rounded-full bg-amber-100 px-2 py-1 text-[11px] font-semibold text-amber-700">Due today</span>{% endif %}
+            {% if card.is_overdue %}<span class="rounded-full bg-red-100 px-2 py-1 text-[11px] font-semibold text-red-700">Overdue</span>{% elif card.is_due_today %}<span class="rounded-full bg-amber-100 px-2 py-1 text-[11px] font-semibold text-amber-700">Due today</span>{% endif %}
           </div>
+
           <div class="mt-3 rounded-xl bg-slate-50 p-3">
             <div class="text-sm font-semibold text-slate-900">{{ card.service_name }}</div>
             <div class="mt-1 text-xs text-slate-500">FY {{ card.financial_year }} · Due {{ card.due_date or '-' }}</div>
           </div>
-          <div class="mt-3 grid grid-cols-3 gap-2 text-center text-xs">
+
-            <div class="rounded-xl border border-slate-200 p-2"><div class="font-semibold text-slate-900">{{ card.open_count }}</div><div class="text-slate-500">Open</div></div>
+          <div class="mt-4">
-            <div class="rounded-xl border border-slate-200 p-2"><div class="font-semibold text-slate-900">{{ card.blocked_count }}</div><div class="text-slate-500">Blocked</div></div>
+            <div class="flex items-center justify-between text-xs">
-            <div class="rounded-xl border border-slate-200 p-2"><div class="font-semibold text-slate-900">{{ card.completed_count }}</div><div class="text-slate-500">Done</div></div>
+              <span class="font-semibold text-slate-600">My progress</span>
+              <span class="font-semibold text-slate-900">{{ card.progress_percent }}%</span>
+            </div>
+            <div class="mt-2 h-2 overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-slate-200">
+              <div class="h-full rounded-full bg-brand-600" style="width: {{ card.progress_percent }}%"></div>
+            </div>
+            <div class="mt-2 text-xs text-slate-500">{{ card.completed_count }} of {{ card.task_count }} assigned tasks completed</div>
           </div>
+
+          {% if column.code == 'blocked' %}
+          <div class="mt-4 rounded-xl border border-rose-200 bg-rose-50 p-3">
+            <div class="text-xs font-semibold uppercase text-rose-700">Pending reason</div>
+            <div class="mt-1 text-sm font-medium text-rose-900">{{ card.blocked_reason }}</div>
+            {% if card.blocked_task_name %}<div class="mt-1 text-xs text-rose-700">Task: {{ card.blocked_task_name }}</div>{% endif %}
+          </div>
+          {% elif card.next_task_name and column.code != 'completed' %}
+          <div class="mt-4 text-xs text-slate-500">Next: <span class="font-medium text-slate-700">{{ card.next_task_name }}</span></div>
+          {% endif %}
+
           {% if card.latest_comment %}<p class="mt-3 truncate text-xs text-slate-500">Latest: {{ card.latest_comment.message }}</p>{% endif %}
-          <a href="/work/engagements/{{ card.engagement_id }}" class="mt-4 inline-flex w-full justify-center rounded-xl bg-brand-600 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-white hover:bg-brand-700">Open Work Details</a>
+
+          {% if column.code == 'pending' %}
+          <form method="post" action="/employee/work/engagements/{{ card.engagement_id }}/start" class="mt-4">
+            <input type="hidden" name="csrf_token" value="{{ csrf_token }}">
+            <button type="submit" class="inline-flex w-full justify-center rounded-xl bg-brand-600 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-white hover:bg-brand-700">Start</button>
+          </form>
+          {% elif column.code == 'in_progress' %}
+          <a href="/employee/work/engagements/{{ card.engagement_id }}" class="mt-4 inline-flex w-full justify-center rounded-xl bg-brand-600 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-white hover:bg-brand-700">Continue</a>
+          {% elif column.code == 'blocked' %}
+          <a href="/employee/work/engagements/{{ card.engagement_id }}" class="mt-4 inline-flex w-full justify-center rounded-xl bg-rose-600 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-white hover:bg-rose-700">Open / Follow Up</a>
+          {% else %}
+          <a href="/employee/work/engagements/{{ card.engagement_id }}" class="mt-4 inline-flex w-full justify-center rounded-xl border border-slate-300 bg-white px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-slate-700 hover:bg-slate-50">View</a>
+          {% endif %}
         </article>
         {% else %}
-        <div class="rounded-2xl border border-dashed border-slate-300 bg-white p-6 text-center text-sm text-slate-500">No cards in this column.</div>
+        <div class="md:col-span-2 xl:col-span-3 rounded-2xl border border-dashed border-slate-300 bg-white p-6 text-center text-sm text-slate-500">No engagement cards in this section.</div>
         {% endfor %}
       </div>
     </section>

app/modules/employees/templates/employees/work_engagement_board.html

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
       </p>
     </div>
     <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
-      <a href="/employee/work" class="rounded-xl border border-slate-300 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-slate-700 hover:bg-slate-50">My Work Board</a>
+      <a href="/employee/work" class="rounded-xl border border-slate-300 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-slate-700 hover:bg-slate-50">Close Workspace</a>
       <a href="/documents/engagements/{{ board.engagement_id }}" class="rounded-xl border border-slate-300 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-slate-700 hover:bg-slate-50">Full Documents</a>
     </div>
   </div>

app/modules/employees/ui.py

@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ from app.modules.employees.service import (
     list_employee_work_dashboard,
     list_employee_work_kanban,
     get_employee_engagement_work_board,
+    start_employee_engagement_workflow,
     list_employee_work_assignable_users,
     list_visible_work_assignment_dashboard,
     list_engagement_progress_dashboard,
@@ -2047,6 +2048,48 @@ def employee_my_work(request: Request, q: str = "", status: str = "open"):
         db.close()
 
 
+@portal_router.post("/work/engagements/{engagement_id}/start")
+def employee_my_work_engagement_start(
+    request: Request,
+    engagement_id: int,
+    csrf_token: str = Form(...),
+):
+    db = CommonSessionLocal()
+    try:
+        current_user = get_current_user(request, db=db)
+        if not current_user:
+            return _redirect_login()
+        try:
+            require_permission(db, current_user, "employees.work.view_self")
+        except Exception:
+            return _redirect_denied()
+        try:
+            validate_csrf(request, csrf_token)
+        except PermissionError:
+            return _csrf_rejected(request)
+        tenant_id = request.session.get("active_tenant_id") or current_user.tenant_id
+        branch_id = request.session.get("active_branch_id")
+        scope = build_employee_scope(
+            db,
+            current_user,
+            tenant_id=tenant_id,
+            branch_id=branch_id,
+        )
+        start_employee_engagement_workflow(
+            db,
+            scope,
+            engagement_id,
+            actor_user_id=current_user.id,
+            financial_year=_active_financial_year(request),
+        )
+        return RedirectResponse(
+            url=f"/employee/work/engagements/{engagement_id}",
+            status_code=303,
+        )
+    finally:
+        db.close()
+
+
 @portal_router.get("/work/engagements/{engagement_id}")
 def employee_my_work_engagement_board(request: Request, engagement_id: int):
     db = CommonSessionLocal()