04/06 adding some additional functions

app/services/notification_service.py

@@ -335,12 +335,18 @@ def notify_comment_added(comment):
 
 
 def notify_assignment(ticket, assigned_by):
-    """Notify newly assigned IT staff member."""
+    """Notify newly assigned IT staff member AND the ticket creator (employee).
+
+    The employee who submitted the ticket (or on whose behalf it was filed)
+    receives a confirmation that their issue has been picked up, giving
+    them visibility without requiring them to poll the ticket page.
+    """
     if not ticket.assigned_to_id:
         return
-    base_url = current_app.config.get('APP_BASE_URL', '')
+    base_url   = current_app.config.get('APP_BASE_URL', '')
     ticket_url = f"{base_url}/tickets/{ticket.id}"
 
+    # ── Notify the IT staff assignee ──────────────────────────────────────────
     create_notification(
         user_id   = ticket.assigned_to_id,
         notif_type= NotificationType.TICKET_ASSIGNED,
@@ -349,7 +355,6 @@ def notify_assignment(ticket, assigned_by):
         ticket_id = ticket.id,
         link      = f'/tickets/{ticket.id}',
     )
-    db.session.commit()
     if ticket.assignee and ticket.assignee.email_notif:
         html = render_template_string(_STATUS_UPDATE_EMAIL,
             ticket_number = ticket.ticket_number,
@@ -362,4 +367,41 @@ def notify_assignment(ticket, assigned_by):
             [ticket.assignee.email],
             html,
         )
-    logger.info(f'[TICKET ASSIGN] ticket_id={ticket.id} assigned_to={ticket.assigned_to_id} by={assigned_by.id}')
+
+    # ── Notify the ticket creator (employee) ──────────────────────────────────
+    # Only notify if the creator is not the assignee — avoids a redundant
+    # self-notification when IT staff file and assign their own tickets.
+    if ticket.created_by_id != ticket.assigned_to_id:
+        assignee_name = ticket.assignee.full_name if ticket.assignee else 'an IT staff member'
+        employee_msg  = (
+            f'Your ticket "{ticket.title}" has been picked up by {assignee_name}. '
+            f'You will be notified as soon as there is an update.'
+        )
+        create_notification(
+            user_id   = ticket.created_by_id,
+            notif_type= NotificationType.TICKET_ASSIGNED,
+            title     = f'Ticket {ticket.ticket_number} — Now Being Worked On',
+            message   = employee_msg,
+            ticket_id = ticket.id,
+            link      = f'/tickets/{ticket.id}',
+        )
+        creator = db.session.get(User, ticket.created_by_id)
+        if creator and creator.email_notif:
+            html = render_template_string(_STATUS_UPDATE_EMAIL,
+                ticket_number = ticket.ticket_number,
+                title         = ticket.title,
+                message       = employee_msg,
+                ticket_url    = ticket_url,
+            )
+            send_email(
+                f'[Ticket Update] {ticket.ticket_number} — Now Being Worked On',
+                [creator.email],
+                html,
+            )
+
+    db.session.commit()
+    logger.info(
+        f'[TICKET ASSIGN] ticket_id={ticket.id} '
+        f'assigned_to={ticket.assigned_to_id} by={assigned_by.id} '
+        f'employee_notified={ticket.created_by_id != ticket.assigned_to_id}'
+    )