The TimeForge Breaks module is a comprehensive feature inside of TimeForge Attendance that allows management to control employee breaks and meal periods. You can set the Break Options as needed for your business, which provides you significant flexibility in managing and monitoring staff member breaks and meal periods.
You will want to configure Break Options so that they conform to fit your business' operations, and so TimeForge can provide the best possible and most convenient Attendance monitoring to your business. Some of the Break Options you'll need to consider are whether employees are required to take breaks. For example, if your state labor laws require a 15 minute break every 4 hours, you'll want to require breaks.
You also need to consider whether employees can take breaks without being scheduled for a break. For example, if John needs a bathroom break, but isn't scheduled for a break for another two hours, do you want to provide him the option of taking an extra break? Additionally, you should decide whether you want employees to be automatically clocked in and out for breaks. For example, if Jane is scheduled for a ten minute break at noon, do you want TimeForge to clock her out for ten minutes automatically at noon?
Navigate to the "Attendance Options" page
- Log in
- Hover over the "Attendance" tab
- Click "Attendance Options".
Turn on break tracking.
Be sure to turn on break tracking by setting the option to "Yes" to start working with breaks.
Configure the break rules as needed.
After turning on break tracking, TimeForge will display a number of new configuration options to control meal periods and breaks.
Force employees to use scheduled breaks.
If set to "No", staff must take their breaks based on the scheduled break times and the posted schedule. So, if no breaks are scheduled, staff cannot take a break.
If set to "Yes", staff are allowed to take a break at any time, regardless of the scheduled break times or types.
Require breaks based on scheduled order and type.
If set to "Yes", staff must take their breaks based on the order of their scheduled breaks and the posted schedule. For example, if an unpaid/required break is scheduled first, and then a paid/optional break, employees must first take the unpaid/required break, and then they can take the paid/optional break.
If set to "No", staff are allowed to take a break at any time, regardless of the scheduled break times or types. For example, if an unpaid/required break is scheduled first, and then a paid/optional break, employees may take either break, in any order.
Automatically take breaks for employees.
If set to "No", staff must take their breaks manually (by going to TimeForge and starting their break).
If set to "Yes", TimeForge will automatically take scheduled breaks for any staff member who forgets to take their scheduled break. For example, if an unpaid/required break is scheduled at 10:00am, but the employee forgets to take the break, TimeForge will automatically take the break for them.
Automatically end breaks.
If set to "No", employees must end their breaks manually (by going to TimeForge and ending their break).
If set to "Yes", TimeForge will automatically end scheduled breaks for any staff member who forgets to end their scheduled break. For example, if an employee starts a 15 minute unpaid/required break at 10:00am, but forgets to end the break at 10:15am, TimeForge will automatically end the break for the staff member.
Allow breaks prior to scheduled time.
If set to "No", employees are allowed to take their scheduled breaks at any time, regardless of the scheduled start times for the breaks. For example, if a break is scheduled at 11:15am, the employee can click on "Take a Break" at 11:00am, and will be allowed to start the break at 11:00am.
If set to "Yes", employees must take their breaks no earlier than the scheduled start time of the break. For example, if a break is scheduled at 11:15am, the employee can not click on "Take a Break" until 11:15am.
Require break duration minimums
If set to "No", employees are allowed to take breaks that are of any duration, regardless of the scheduled break times. For example, if an employee ends a scheduled 30 minute break after 20 minutes, they will be allowed to do so.
If set to "Yes", employees must take a break that is at least as long as the scheduled break time. For example, if an employee attempts to end a scheduled 20 minute break after 15 minutes, TimeForge will not allow them to do so. They must be on break at least 20 minutes, if this option is set.
Convert unpaid breaks to paid breaks.
If set to "No", breaks that are unpaid will never convert to any other type of break. For example, if an employee ends a scheduled 15 minute unpaid break, it will continue to be an unpaid break.
If set to "Yes", any break that is unpaid, but ends prior to the scheduled duration, will be converted from an unpaid break to a paid break. For example, if an employee ends an unpaid 30 minute lunch break after 28 minutes, then the 28 minute unpaid lunch break will convert to a 28 minute paid break.