Shift rule configuration in Auto Schedule

Updated by Lucia

You must have purchased the Auto Schedule to configure and use this solution.

Introduction

Shift rules allow you to control the types of shifts Auto Schedule is permitted to create. These rules are typically based on labor regulations and include parameters such as minimum and maximum shift lengths, as well as allowable start and end times. By configuring these rules, you ensure that the AI-generated schedule complies with local agreements and regional differences.

Auto Schedule creates shifts that adhere to these rules while optimizing shift lengths to cover your demand curve. For example, it may create shorter shifts to cover specific peak periods.

Adding Shift & Break configuration rules

New users: Navigate to Optimisation settings > Algorithm > Auto Schedule - shift and break rules.

Select Your Scope

After you click "Create rule set" a new menu will appear where you can define a rule set name and select the Units and/or Sections that the rule set applies for.

  • Sections: You can configure shift type rules specifically at the Section level. This ensures that shifts are generated correctly for staffing demand defined at that specific level. Read more about Working with shift type rules at the section level.
  • Hierarchy: Sections (e.g., Engineering, Sales) are always nested as children of Units.
  • Selection Logic: The UI selection follows the same pattern used in OHV labor standards.
  • Visibility: Selecting the Customer level allows you to view all existing shift rules, but you cannot add new ones from that level.

The Separate Rule Set Principle: A single rule set applies its parameters equally to everything selected within it. You cannot have unique rules (e.g., different start times) for a Section and a Unit within the same set. If a Section requires unique rules, they must be housed in a separate rule set.

Once you have saved the previous configuration, you will be able to add Shift and Break rules. By setting these rules, you define allowed start and end times, shift durations, and break behaviours for your business.

General settings

  • Rule name: A required, custom name that clearly describes the rule's purpose (e.g., "Morning rules").
  • Days of the week: Checkboxes allowing you to select exactly which days of the week this specific rule applies to.
Shift type rules

This section defines the permissible time windows for shifts to start and end, as well as their allowed lengths.

  • Start time window (Earliest / Latest): Defines the boundary period during which a shift is allowed to begin.
  • End time window (Earliest / Latest): Defines the boundary period during which a shift is allowed to conclude.
Overnight shifts: The earliest end time will always be evaluated as later than the earliest start time. If you configure earliest/latest end times that are strictly earlier than the earliest start time, the system will interpret this as the next occurrence of that time (i.e., crossing over midnight into the next calendar day).
  • Shift duration (Minimum / Maximum): Sets the absolute shortest and longest time bounds for the shift.
System validations: The system enforces logic validations to ensure feasibility. You cannot set minimum or maximum shift durations that contradict the maximum possible duration allowed by your defined start and end time windows.
Break Type Rules

This section dictates if, when, and how breaks are scheduled during the shifts created by this rule.

  • Number of breaks: Select whether the shift includes No breaks, One break, or Two breaks.
  • Break timing: Determines the logic used to place the break within the scheduled shift. There are two timing options:
    • Shift-based breaks: Break placement is calculated dynamically based on the start and end time of the individual shift.
    • Time-of-day breaks: Break placement is locked to a specific, fixed time on the clock, regardless of the individual shift's start/end times.
  • Consider break hours as productive hours: A toggle that, when enabled, prevents the system from scheduling another employee to cover the workload during this specific break time.
    Break duration: A dropdown to select the length of the break in minutes.
    Working time intervals:
    • Minimum work time before break: The mandatory amount of time an employee must work before their first break can begin.
    • Minimum work time after break: The mandatory amount of time an employee must work after their break finishes before the shift can end (or before a second break begins).
Advanced Timing Controls

When expanded, this section provides additional parameters to fine-tune exactly when breaks are triggered and required during a shift.

  • Shortest shift duration to require the break: This required setting defines the minimum threshold a shift must meet to qualify for a break. If a generated shift is shorter than this specified duration, the system will not schedule a break for it.
  • Maximum work time before the break must start: This setting enforces an upper limit on continuous working time. It ensures that an employee does not work longer than this specified duration without their break beginning, helping to maintain compliance with labor laws or company policies regarding maximum continuous work hours.
  • Shift types selection
    The final step of the configuration process is to connect the rules you've just built to specific Quinyx Shift types. This defines exactly which shift types Auto Schedule should generate using your new parameters.

To configure this section:

  • Select optimal headcount: Choose the target headcount from the dropdown menu. The options available here are dynamically filtered based on the units and sections (groups) you selected in the initial setup step.
  • Select shift types: Search for and assign the specific Local or Shared shift types that correspond to your chosen optimal headcount

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