How do I Set Up Break Rules?
The TimeForge Breaks module inside of TimeForge Scheduling is a powerful and flexible management system for scheduling breaks and meal periods for staff members. TimeForge Breaks are controlled using the Break Rules, and these Break Rules become scheduled breaks on the schedule that can be controlled and monitored using TimeForge Attendance, or with a worksheet and signatures by staff members.
TimeForge Break Rules are designed to allow management staff to specify the language and requirements of paid, unpaid, optional, and required breaks, similar to how they might be specified by federal, state, or local authorities
For example, in some states, it may be required to provide a 15-minute optional and unpaid break to staff members who work at least 6 hours.
Navigate to the Break Rules
Go to the Employees tab, and the Breaks sub-tab.
Review the Break Rules
Review the Break Rules, which specify the number of breaks, duration of break, recurrence, whether or not the break is required (or optional), whether the break is paid (or unpaid), a description for the break, the position the break applies to, and how long the employee must be at work for the break to apply.
Configure Break Rules
To add a break rule, click on the Add a New Break Rule button [7]. Some information about this screen:
1 – Breaks applying to any position are listed under the “Any Position” section. Breaks for specific positions are listed under their respective position names. This flexibility allows management breaks, or FOH and BOH to have different break set ups.
2 – Select the number of breaks, and the duration of the break(s). For example, in the picture, we are describing “2 breaks”, and each break lasts “5 minutes”.
3 – Choose the duration for repetition of the break(s). For example, in the picture, we are describing breaks that occur once every 6 hours. If the breaks should be awarded every 2 hours, but the shift is 4 hours long, the staff member may be awarded 2 sets of breaks.
4 – Decide whether the breaks are paid, unpaid, required, or optional, and add a description for the break. For example, in the picture, we are describing a required, but unpaid break, with no description.
5 – Decide if the break applies to all positions, or only one type of position, and also decide which specific shifts will receive the break. For example, in the picture we are awarding breaks to staff members who work Bartender shifts that are at least 6 hours long, but no longer than 8 hours.
TimeForge will tie all of the Break Rules together and will apply / award the breaks to staff members working applicable shifts. Based on the picture for this step, TimeForge will provide (2) 5-minute breaks to bartenders who work at least 6 hours, but less than 8 hours. These breaks will both be required, but are unpaid.
When you’re done working with the breaks, make sure to click on the Save Break Rules button [6].
Test the Break Rules
TimeForge provides management staff with the ability to test the break rules, to ensure that the break rules are configured exactly as you need them for your business.
To test the break rules, choose an applicable position, and then simulate the duration of a work shift, and click on Test Break Rules.
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