Configure Timesheets with Multiple Breaks

Overview

Some awards require that penalties are paid to employees if their breaks aren’t taken within a particular time within their shift. This can apply to more than one break throughout the shift. 

Configuring timesheets to allow for multiple breaks allows you to account for any penalty rates that should apply in line with the legislative requirements for your employees’ awards. 

Using the Start/Stop break entry method, you’ll be able to configure the number of breaks that can be added to a single shift (ie a single time block in a timesheet), and configure your Pay Rules to interpret multiple breaks. 

Configure the Portal Default Timesheet Break Settings

You can manage your Timesheet Break Settings at a portal level, but they can also be configured per entity or for a Rule Group.

Multiple breaks can only be configured for timesheets if your Config > System Setup > Timesheet Settings > Break Entry Method has been set to ‘Break Start/Finish Times’. 

When this method is selected, you’ll see an additional dropdown field to configure the ‘Number of Breaks’, with a minimum value of 1 and a maximum value of 3. By default, the system will set the number of breaks to 1. 

To change how many breaks can be added to a timesheet, select the Number of breaks from the dropdown list and click Save.

Important: If any other Timesheet Break Entry methods are configured, the number of breaks cannot be defined, and only a single break can be entered on a timesheet. 

Configure Timesheet Break Settings at an Entity Level

Timesheet Break Settings can be set at an entity level in Config > Company Management > select entity > Entity Details. 

You can nominate the Timesheet Break Entry method to apply for an entity, or set it as the Portal Default. In this case, the selections that you have made in Config > System Setup > Timesheet Settings will be applied. 

At an entity level, the same restrictions apply to the number of breaks that can be entered: between 1-3 breaks, and only if the Break Start/Finish Times method is set. 

To change how many breaks can be added to a timesheet, select the Number of breaks from the dropdown list and click Save.

When a Timesheet Break Entry is applied for the entity, all timesheets linked to that entity will use this configuration.

Configure Timesheet Break Settings in a Rule Group

Rule Groups can be configured with their own unique Timesheet Break Entry configuration. 

To allow for multiple timesheet breaks to be entered in a Rule Group, go to Config > Payroll > Rule Group > select the rule group and then:

• Ensure that the Timesheet Break Entry field is set to Break Start/Finish Times, or uses the Entity or Portal Default if these have been configured for multiple breaks; and,
• Set the number of breaks you would like to display per shift/time block.

You’ll need to click Save to apply any changes.