Configure Period Definitions

Define the periods that will be evaluated for the thresholds of minimum and maximum hours that employees are allowed to be scheduled to work. The maximum length of time for a period definition is one year.

1. Go to Administration > Application Setup > Scheduler Setup > Schedule Rules > Period Definition.
2. Click Create.
3. Enter a Name and optionally a Description.
4. In Period Type, select either Validation Period or Schedule Event Zone.

For more information about Schedule Events, see Configure Schedule Event Rules.

5. Configure the Period Start:
1. Select a Start Type of either Day of week or Day of month.
2. If Start Type is Day of week:
   • In Day of Week, select Any or select the specific day of the week to start the period.
3. If Start Type is Day of month:
   • In Start Month, select Any or select the specific month to start the period.
   • In Start Day, enter or select the numerical day of the month to start the period.

   • Note: To specify a zone that goes from the first day of the month to the last day of the month (for any month), choose Day of month and enter 1 for Start Day and 31 for End Day. The system adjusts for months that have less than 31 days.

   • If the selected Period Type is Schedule Event Zone, specify the Time of Day to start the period.
6. Configure the Period End:
1. Select a Period End of either Day of week, Day of month, or Length.
2. If Period End is Day of week:
   • In Day of Week, select Same or next day or select the specific day of the week to end the period.

   The Same or next day option enables you to create an schedule event zone for a night zone, which typically overlaps two days.

3. If Period End is Day of month:
   • In End Month, select Same or next month or select the specific month to end the period.
   • In End Day, enter or select the numerical day of the month to end the period.
   • If the selected Period Type is Schedule Event Zone, specify the Time of Day to end the period.
4. If Period End is Length:
   • In Amount, enter or select the number of hours, days, weeks, or months to end the period.
   • In Length Type, specify the length of time in either Hour(s), Day(s), Week(s), or Month(s).
7. To configure this as a rolling period:
1. Select Rolling Increment.
2. Enter the Amount (number of days, weeks, or months) and select the Rolling Increment Type (days, weeks, or months) that the rolling increment will advance.

Example: For a 16-week rule with a rolling increment of 1 week, the rule always evaluates within the 16-week period. Evaluate week 1 to 16, week 2 to 17, week 3 to 18, and so on for rolling periods.

8. In Anchor date, select or enter the date that the period definition takes effect.
9. Add additional period definitions as needed.
10. Click Save.

Note: Once a Period Definition is saved, you cannot modify its Period Type.

Note: You cannot delete a Period Definition that is assigned to a Schedule Event or to a Schedule Event Rule.

Example Use Cases

Non-rolling (fixed) period

An employee must not work more than 192 hours per month.

• Name — Enter a descriptive name, such as Monthly Period.
• Period Type — Select Validation Period.
• Start Type — Select Day of Month.
• Start Month — Select Any.
• Start Day — Enter 1 (to start on the 1st of the month).
• Period End — Select Length.
• Amount — Enter 1.
• Length Type — Select Month(s).
• Rolling Increment — Do not select this option.
• Anchor Date — Select 1/1/20.

Rolling period

An employee can only work up to 42 hours per week on average over a 16-week period

• Name — Enter a descriptive name, such as 16-Week Rolling Period.
• Period Type — Select Validation Period.
• Start Type — Select Day of Week.
• Day of Week — Select Sunday.
• Start Day — Enter 1 (to start on the 1st of the month).
• Period End — Select Length.
• Amount — Enter 16.
• Length Type — Select Week(s).
• Rolling Increment — Select this option.
• Amount — Enter 1.
• Rolling Increment Type — Select Week(s).
• Anchor Date — Select 1/1/20.

Configure an employee rule set that includes one or more period hours rules. Period hours rules define the maximum or minimum number of work hours to allow during a defined period. The system evaluates all the period hours rules in the rule set to determine if the employee is compliant with all the minimum and maximum hours limits.

1. Go to Administration > Application Setup > Scheduler Setup > Schedule Rules > Schedule Rule Sets > Employee Rule Sets.
2. Create a new period hours rule set. For more information, see Period hours tab .

Configure the Schedule Planner to use Employee Period Hours Rules — and, if applicable, Employee Event Rules — and to display associated rule violations on the Rule Violations tab. For more information, see Configure Schedule Planner.

1. Navigate to Main Menu > Administration > Application Setup > Scheduler Setup > Schedule Planner.
2. Select an existing Schedule Planner and click Edit .
3. Expand Secondary Schedule Configuration.
4. In Employee Rules:
   1. Select Employee Period Hours Rules.
   2. If the Period Definition was set up with a Period Type of Schedule Event Zone, select Employee Event Rules.
5. Expand Add-ons.
6. In Available Add-ons, select Rule Violations.
7. Click Save.

Configure the Staffing Dashboard to display rule violations for Employee Period Hours Rules — and, if applicable, Employee Event Rules.

1. Navigate to Main Menu Administration > Application Setup > Staffing Setup > Staffing Dashboard.
2. Select an existing Staffing Dashboard and click Edit .
3. In Staffing Indicator Type Display, ensure that rule violation indicators are selected. For more information, see Configure Staffing DashboardsConfigure Staffing Dashboards
4. In Employee Rules:
   1. Select Employee Period Hours Rules.
   2. If the Period Definition was set up with a Period Type of Schedule Event Zone, select Employee Event Rules.
5. Click Save.

Configure the Days for pattern rollout setting to ensure the Shift Builder runs out to the maximum date to cover your longest evaluation period.

1. Go to select Administration > Application Setup > Scheduler Setup > Shift Builder Criteria.
2. In Days for pattern rollout, specify the number of days that is far enough out in the future to cover the longest Period Hours rule evaluation period that you have configured.
3. Click Save.