This tab allows you to specify the minimum break length and rules for break rounding.
By default, there is one break type called Break, but you can create more (up to three more) and each break type can have its own minimum break length and rules for rounding.
After selecting a break type, you must choose whether it uses the company wide settings for minimums and rounding or the following settings.
The company wide settings may be found in the TimeClock Defaults: Configuration > Preferences > Defaults > Global Settings > Breaks.
3.3.3.1. Minimum Break Length and Break Rounding
1. Select the Break type that you wish to configure.
2. Choose whether the selected break will use the company wide settings or the following.
3. If Use the following settings is selected, the options below it will become available:
Enforce minimum break length of X minutes - If a minimum break length is desired for the selected break type then enable this and enter the minimum. Employees who clock into this job code and take the selected break will not be allowed to clock in until they meet this minimum. They can clock in after meeting the minimum or a manager can override the restriction and allow them to clock in early.
Round breaks to nearest X minutes - If rounding the length of the selected break type is desired then enable this and enter the length to which it should round up or down. Whether the break length is rounded up or down will depend on when the employee returns. If this is enabled then the options below it will become available.
First segment: Round up at - Enter how many minutes into the first segment will round the break length up. If the employee clocks in before reaching this number then the break length will round down. If 0 is entered then the length will not be rounded during the first segment. Other segment: Round up at - Enter how many minutes into other
segments will round the break length up. If the employee clocks in before reaching this number then the break length will round down. If 0 is entered then the length will not be rounded during the first segment. The First Segment is the first x minutes of the break and Other
Segments include every x minute period after the first segment (where x is the amount you are rounding to). So if you entered 30 in the “Round breaks to nearest” field, the First Segment would be the first 30 minutes of the break and Other Segments would be every 30 minute period after. In the example below, the first segment is the first 15 minutes of the break. Every 15 minutes after the first 15 minutes is classified as the “other segment”.
With the parameters above, if an employee returns from the selected break type after 7 minutes (or sooner) the break length will be rounded down 15 minutes. John goes on a break at 10:00 and returns at 10:07. The break length would be rounded down 15 minutes by adjusting his time in to 10:00. As a result, there wouldn’t be a break. If an employee returns from the selected break type after 8 minutes (or up to 15 minutes later) the break length will be rounded up 15 minutes. John goes on a break at 10:00 and returns at 10:08. The break length would be rounded up 15 minutes by adjusting his time in to 10:15.
After the first 15 minutes, the other segment begins.
If an employee returns from the selected break type after 16 minutes (or up to 22 minutes later) the break length will be rounded down 15 minutes. Jane goes on a break at 10:00 and returns at 10:22. The break length would be rounded down 15 minutes by adjusting her time in to 10:15. The result would be a break length of 15 minutes.
If an employee returns from the selected break type after 23 minutes which is 8 minutes into the other segment (or up to 30 minutes later) the break length will be rounded up 15 minutes. Jane goes on a break at 10:00 and returns at 10:23. The break length would be rounded up 15 minutes by adjusting her time in to 10:30.
3.3.3.2. More Information on Minimums and Break Rounding
The Test button at the bottom allows you to simulate a break to better understand the behavior of TimeClock Plus based on your current settings.
If you enable a minimum break length then the employee will not be allowed to return from the selected break until the minimum entered has passed.
For example, let’s assume you select the break type, Lunch (from the Break type
drop down list), and enter 30 minutes as the minimum. If an employee clocks into this job code and later goes on a Lunch break, but tries to return after 15 minutes, they will be restricted from clocking in until their break is 30 minutes. However, if
authorized, a manager with the rights to override may go to the employee’s location and enter an override password to clock that employee in before the minimum is reached.
If you enable rounding then the time that the employee returns from the selected break will be adjusted so that the length of the break is rounded to the nearest
amount entered. Whether it rounds up or down depends on when the employee returns.
The First Segment and Other Segments are windows that determine if the break length should be rounded up or down. The First Segment is the first x minutes of the break and Other Segments include every x minute period after the first segment (where x is the amount you are rounding to). So if you entered 30 in the Round breaks to nearest field, the First Segment would be the first 30 minutes of the break and Other Segments would include every 30 minute period after that.
For example, let’s assume you select the break type, Lunch (from the Break type
drop down list), enter 30 minutes for the Round breaks to nearest, and enter 8 minutes for the First Segment and Other Segments. An employee clocks in and goes on a Lunch break at 12:00 PM.
If the employee clocks back in at 12:07 (7 minute break) then the break length will be rounded down to the nearest 30 minutes which means the time in (12:07) will be adjusted to 12:00.
If the employee clocks in at 12:08 (8 minute break) then the break length will be rounded up to the nearest 30 minutes which means the time in (12:08) will be adjusted to 12:30.
If the employee clocks in at 12:37 then the break length will be rounded down to the nearest 30 minutes which means the time in (12:37) will be adjusted to 12:30.
If the employee clocks in at 12:38 then the break length will be rounded up to the nearest 30 minutes which means the time in (12:38) will be adjusted to 1:00.
3.3.3.3. Break Minimums and Rounding Test
This screen allows you to create a hypothetical situation to see how the system will behave based on your minimum and rounding rules. After selecting the break type, enter the start time (the beginning of the break), the return time (the end of the break), and click Test.
1. Select the Break type that you wish to configure.
2. Next to Break start, enter the time at which your hypothetical break began. 3. Next to Break return, enter the time that the employee returned from this
break. 4. Click Test.