---
title: Report on who backfilled departed employees
slug: report-on-who-backfilled-departed-employees
createdAt: 2026-10-28T10:20:38.365Z
---

## Overview

The **Backfilled By** field (`backfilledBy`) lives on the leaving person's row and points to whoever filled their seat. You can use it to answer questions like:

- Who replaced Jane after she left?
- Which recent exits still have an open seat?
- How long did a seat sit empty before the backfill was hired?
- Did the replacement come in at a higher or lower salary?

This is the forward-looking complement to **Historic Backfill**, which looks backward from the current job. **Backfilled By** looks forward from the person who left.

## Add the column to a Data Sheet

To see the field in a Data Sheet:

1. Open a **Data Sheet**.
2. Select **Select columns**.
3. Under **Recruiting**, select **Backfilled By**.

Because the field lives on the leaving person's row, you need to view it at a point in time when that person still holds their job:

- Set the **date slider** to a date before the person's last day, or
- Use a date-range report that includes their tenure.

On today's date, people who have already left no longer appear on a row (they no longer hold the job), so the field will not be visible for them on a current-date Data Sheet.

:::hint{type="warning"}
**Backfilled By** is a highly sensitive field. Only viewers with sensitive access can see it. Users without sensitive access see no value and will not see the column, including the existence of the field.
:::

## Filter examples

Use these CQL filters on a Data Sheet or report to find the people you are looking for.

| Question                                    | CQL filter                               |
| ------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| Whose seat has been backfilled?             | `backfilledBy:*`                         |
| Who is leaving but has no backfill yet?     | `endDateOrg:* && !backfilledBy:*`        |
| Regretted exits still waiting on a backfill | `departRegret = true && !backfilledBy:*` |
| Exits backfilled by a specific person       | `backfilledBy = 'Jane Doe'`              |

## Column and formula examples

Add these as columns on a Data Sheet or as expressions in a report to surface backfill detail.

| Insight                               | Expression                                        |
| ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Who replaced them                     | `backfilledBy.name`                               |
| Replacement's start date              | `backfilledBy.startDate`                          |
| Days the seat sat empty               | `backfilledBy.startDate - endDateOrg`             |
| Did the backfill keep the same title? | `backfilledBy.title = title ? 'Same' : 'Changed'` |
| Salary change on the backfill         | `backfilledBy.base - base`                        |
| Second replacement in a chain         | `backfilledBy.backfilledBy.name`                  |

:::hint{type="warning"}
The salary comparison example (`backfilledBy.base - base`) requires compensation access on both rows. Viewers without comp access will see a scrubbed or empty value.
:::

## Things to know

- **Internal moves count.** On an active employee who moved to a new role internally, the field shows who took their old seat. You can use this to build internal-mobility backfill reports alongside turnover reports.
- **First replacement only.** The field always shows the first person to fill the seat, not the current holder. If the backfill later leaves, chain with `backfilledBy.backfilledBy` to follow the next replacement.
- **Date context matters.** Run the report as of a date before the person's last day, or use it on future-dated departures, to see the field on their row.
- **Works in scenarios.** In a planning scenario, the field reads scenario changes and shows who is planned to fill the seat.
- **Highly sensitive.** Viewers without sensitive access see nothing back. Hidden backfill jobs and unannounced hires also stay hidden.

:::hint{type="info"}
[Packages](https://www.charthop.com/pricing/): **Basic** | **Standard** | **Premium**

[Roles](https://docs.charthop.com/user-roles-and-permissions): Owner | Org editor | Recruiting editor

**Note for product:** Please confirm the correct Packages and Roles for this feature.
:::